Oxford academic denies charges over alleged possession of child abuse images
Oxford lecturer Dr Lola Salem has pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing indecent images of children and is due to face trial in March 2028. Oriel College has suspended her; the allegations matter because they concern serious criminal offences, but Salem denies them and remains on bail.
The charges relate to four images allegedly held between April 2021 and February 2023: three Category B images and one Category C image. Her trial is expected to last two to three days, and her reported defence is that the images were sent to her unsolicited and that she reported them to police. The alleged offences predate her relationship with Michael Gove, which has ended. Historian Henry Hopwood-Phillips, charged in the same case, admitted separate image offences and received a suspended sentence and other orders.
- Lola Salem denies charges of possessing indecent images of children.
- Her trial is scheduled for March 2028.
- She remains on bail and has been suspended by Oriel College.
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Dr Lola Salem is a lecturer at Oxford's Oriel College who faces charges relating to possessing indecent images of children. The alleged images date from between April 2021 and February 2023 and comprise four photographs in total. Her trial is scheduled to take place in March 2028.
This is a serious criminal matter involving allegations of possessing child abuse material. Oriel College has suspended Salem from her position as a result. She remains on bail whilst the case proceeds to trial, with her reported defence being that the images were sent to her without her consent and that she reported them to the police.
A historian named Henry Hopwood-Phillips was charged in connection with the same investigation. His case has already concluded, with Hopwood-Phillips admitting to image offences and receiving a suspended sentence and other court orders.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Michael Gove’s Oxford don ex-girlfriend is facing trial for possession of child abuse images”.