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| Teacher jailed for sex with pupil | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A private school teacher who admitted having an unlawful relationship with a 15-year-old pupil has been jailed for 15 months at Southwark Crown Court. | A private school teacher who admitted having an unlawful relationship with a 15-year-old pupil has been jailed for 15 months at Southwark Crown Court. |
| Helen Goddard, 26, taught music at a prestigious central London school before her arrest in July. | Helen Goddard, 26, taught music at a prestigious central London school before her arrest in July. |
| Goddard, of Thornham Street, Greenwich, south-east London, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a female child under 16. | Goddard, of Thornham Street, Greenwich, south-east London, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a female child under 16. |
| She has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register. | She has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register. |
| The relationship involved a fair degree of deception not only in respect of the school but also to the girl's parents Judge Anthony Pitts | The relationship involved a fair degree of deception not only in respect of the school but also to the girl's parents Judge Anthony Pitts |
| Goddard, who was known as the "jazz lady", became close to the youngster as they met over coffee after classes but was "pressured" into the relationship by the pupil, the court was told. | |
| Their relationship became sexual and during their five-month affair the two spent a weekend in Paris and on another occasion the student stayed overnight at Goddard's home. | Their relationship became sexual and during their five-month affair the two spent a weekend in Paris and on another occasion the student stayed overnight at Goddard's home. |
| The teenager's parents called the relationship a "complete betrayal" of trust. | The teenager's parents called the relationship a "complete betrayal" of trust. |
| Sentencing Goddard, Judge Anthony Pitts said: "This is a difficult case. The evidence showed you were having a full-on sexual relationship with the girl for many months. | Sentencing Goddard, Judge Anthony Pitts said: "This is a difficult case. The evidence showed you were having a full-on sexual relationship with the girl for many months. |
| "She has made it clear that the sexual contact between you was consensual and she says in her statement that in fact it was instigated by her. | "She has made it clear that the sexual contact between you was consensual and she says in her statement that in fact it was instigated by her. |
| "It is, of course, against the law to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16, even with her consent." | "It is, of course, against the law to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16, even with her consent." |
| 'Draconian' order | 'Draconian' order |
| He said the "particularly aggravating feature" of the case was that Goddard continued to teach the girl music throughout their affair. | He said the "particularly aggravating feature" of the case was that Goddard continued to teach the girl music throughout their affair. |
| The judge added: "The relationship involved a fair degree of deception not only in respect of the school but also to the girl's parents. | The judge added: "The relationship involved a fair degree of deception not only in respect of the school but also to the girl's parents. |
| "They made a statement they felt you betrayed their trust. They feel particularly betrayed by the deception of the Paris weekend." | "They made a statement they felt you betrayed their trust. They feel particularly betrayed by the deception of the Paris weekend." |
| The school was made aware of the affair through an anonymous tip-off, the court heard. | The school was made aware of the affair through an anonymous tip-off, the court heard. |
| Police found several sex toys during a search of Goddard's home after her arrest. | Police found several sex toys during a search of Goddard's home after her arrest. |
| The judge, who was told the girl and the teacher were genuinely in love, did not uphold the prosecution's request for a sexual offences prevention order as it would be "draconian and unnecessarily cruel" to the girl as well. | The judge, who was told the girl and the teacher were genuinely in love, did not uphold the prosecution's request for a sexual offences prevention order as it would be "draconian and unnecessarily cruel" to the girl as well. |
| Goddard admitted six sample counts of sexual activity with the girl between February and July this year. | Goddard admitted six sample counts of sexual activity with the girl between February and July this year. |