Teacher jailed for sex with girls

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A science teacher has been jailed for five years for having sex with three of his pupils in Norfolk.

Brett Meeds, 28, from Orton Goldhay in Peterborough, earlier pleaded guilty to nine charges, including sexual assault and breach of trust.

Norwich Crown Court heard the teenage victims, one of whom was under 16, were the subject of sexual abuse on several occasions from late 2008 to early 2009.

Meeds was also disqualified from working with children indefinitely.

'Terrible ordeal'

Meeds was suspended from Northgate High School in Dereham when the allegations came to light and later dismissed.

At court in September, he admitted offences of sexual activity with girls which breached his position of trust.

He also admitted two charges of possessing indecent photographs of two girls.

Prosecuting lawyer Lorraine Irwin said: "Meeds was in a position of trust as a teacher and abused this trust and preyed on these innocent girls for his own sexual gratification.

"The victims in this case have been have been through a terrible ordeal and in these very difficult circumstances have been very brave in coming forward.

"We hope they can now begin to move on positively with their lives and we are glad that this case has reached a successful conclusion."