He was in the ultimate position of trust. Quite frankly, he ought to have known better

Tanya Ossack Kingston's counsel

Kingston had treated the talented schoolgirl to theatre and cinema trips, sent her a Valentine card and became her confidante.

The "vulnerable" teenager was a talented musician and actress and Kingston had singled her out and made her his assistant director, the court heard.

"She began to confide in him her troubles at home," said Patrick Gibbs, prosecuting.

"Her domestic circumstances were very difficult and she was being bullied at school.

Private trips

"When she was just 15, he suggested to her a trip to the theatre together with others, but no others turned up.

"He told her they had cancelled at the last minute and the two of them went to the theatre.

"After, he took her to the pub. She found it very comforting to have someone to talk to."

On another occasion he also took the teenager to the cinema and to Camden Market to help choose costumes for the play.

On the third occasion he invited her to his Surrey home, where he hugged and kissed her and asked if she was a virgin.

Position of trust

"She confirmed that she was and he led her to the bedroom where they had sex," Mr Gibbs told the court.

Kingston's counsel, Tanya Ossack said he had not groomed the girl for sex.

Kingston was put on the sexual offenders register for five years.

The court heard he would also be placed on a local education authority register which was circulated nationally and he would not be considered by any public authority for employment again.