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Teacher jailed over pupil affair | Teacher jailed over pupil affair |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The head of English at a top Roman Catholic school in Lancashire has been jailed after he admitted having a seven-month relationship with a pupil. | The head of English at a top Roman Catholic school in Lancashire has been jailed after he admitted having a seven-month relationship with a pupil. |
Dr Terence Bell, 46, was jailed for 20 weeks after the 17-year-old was found sitting astride him in a classroom at £22,000-a-year Stonyhurst College. | Dr Terence Bell, 46, was jailed for 20 weeks after the 17-year-old was found sitting astride him in a classroom at £22,000-a-year Stonyhurst College. |
He later told police: "The game's up isn't it? Love is a powerful thing," Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told. | He later told police: "The game's up isn't it? Love is a powerful thing," Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told. |
Bell admitted visiting the girl in the school holidays and buying her a phone. | Bell admitted visiting the girl in the school holidays and buying her a phone. |
Jailing the married-father-of three, District Judge Peter Ward said: "One has to consider the expectation of parents when sending their children to school, that they will not be taken advantage of." | Jailing the married-father-of three, District Judge Peter Ward said: "One has to consider the expectation of parents when sending their children to school, that they will not be taken advantage of." |
There had been kissing and cuddling and he had fondled her Philippa White, prosecuting | There had been kissing and cuddling and he had fondled her Philippa White, prosecuting |
He was charged with one count of being in a position of trust and intentionally causing or inciting a girl of 17 to engage in sexual activity. | He was charged with one count of being in a position of trust and intentionally causing or inciting a girl of 17 to engage in sexual activity. |
The court heard Bell was caught by another pupil last month, who saw a light on in a classroom and found the pair. | |
Philippa White, prosecuting, said: "His shirt was unbuttoned half way down and he was not wearing his usual spectacles. | Philippa White, prosecuting, said: "His shirt was unbuttoned half way down and he was not wearing his usual spectacles. |
"The female student removed herself and walked away towards the corner of the classroom. | "The female student removed herself and walked away towards the corner of the classroom. |
"There had been kissing and cuddling and he had fondled her." | "There had been kissing and cuddling and he had fondled her." |
Admissions policy | Admissions policy |
Bell resigned from Stockport Grammar School, Greater Manchester, in 1993, after he wrote to a fifth-year pupil "expressing his feelings of love". | |
He joined Stonyhurst College when its admissions policy only allowed male pupils. It went co-educational in 1996. | |
He was forced to sign the sex offenders register for seven years and banned from working with children. | |
Simon Farnsworth, defending, said: "This has cost him to lose his home, family, job and career forever." | |
Bell, whose address was given as the Isle of Wight, told the court he was estranged from his wife and homeless. | Bell, whose address was given as the Isle of Wight, told the court he was estranged from his wife and homeless. |
A spokesman for Stonyhurst said: "Following the sentencing of former employee Dr Terry Bell, Stonyhurst has now referred the matter to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)." | |
The ISA was set up to prevent unsuitable people working with children and vulnerable adults. |
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