Dive Instructor Booted from PADI for Porno

An internet pervert who sent an indecent image of himself to a 15-year-old girl has been booted out of a group for scuba diving instructors.

Dental technician Stephen Marsh admitted sending the image to the teenager at Preston Crown Court in January.

The 57-year-old, from Liverpool Road, Penwortham worked as a dental technician but was also a member of the Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

But it has emerged today that he is no longer a member of the group after being booted out by bosses.

Marsh has been permanently expelled. Expulsions are imposed on people who are guilty of a "gross violations of PADI standards or ethics."

Neil Fishburne, group manager for training, quality management and member services at PADI, said: "I can confirm that PADI did expel a Stephen Marsh from our membership.

"We were initially contacted by a member of the Lancashire police who advised us of the charges being brought against Mr Marsh.

"At that time we suspended Mr Marsh's membership of PADI pending the outcome of the court case.

"We were again contacted by the police following his guilty plea and so moved to permanently expel Mr Marsh from membership of PADI.

"Mr Marsh would not be allowed to reapply to become a member of PADI again."

A spokesman for Lancashire police confirmed Mr Marsh was a diving instructor and said police had called PADI to inform them of the court case.

Marsh was initially arrested following a catalogue of incidents with the 15-year-old over a period of six months.

He had turned up to meet her on her way to school, offered to do a portfolio of photographs for her and offered to buy her credit for her mobile phone.

It ended when he sent the teenager an indecent image of himself, prompting her to tell her teachers about him.

He was given a two year supervision order and told to attend a sex offender treatment program but he was not ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

That sparked anger from the family of his victim.

Marsh pleaded guilty to possession of pornographic images of acts of intercourse with dead or alive animals and to sending a message which was grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing.