A history teacher three times older than a 15-year-old pupil with whom he regularly had sex was jailed for 12 months yesterday.
Colin Pearce (46), confessed to the police that the schoolgirl was a willing participant and had been chasing him.
He was jailed for 12 months at Stafford Crown Court and told by Judge Michael Dudley: It seems to me that that these offences clearly pass the custody thresh-hold and the least sentence I can pass is 12 months.
Pearce, of Hagley Road, Rugeley, appeared for sentence after pleading guilty before Cannock magistrates to three charges of having sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 18 while in a position of trust.
He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and banned from working with children for five years.
Simon Rippon, prosecuting, said: Their relationship started at Christmas 2000 and their was flirtation between them which took place in and about the classroom at school.
In February 2003, when it appeared both parties had consumed alcohol, the relationship turned into a sexual one when she was taken to his home.
The relationship continued for a month until it ended after she found a text message on his phone that suggested he was having a relationship with somebody else.
Martin Liddiard, defending, said: When asked about it in December he fully acknowledged what had taken place. He entered pleas of guilty straight away.
