Former teacher jailed for grooming pupil for sex

A former teacher who groomed, abused and made a vulnerable teenage pupil pregnant has been jailed for six years.

Edward Waller sent naked photos of himself before having sex with the girl in 2005 while he was teaching at St Anne's Catholic School in Southampton.

The 66-year-old, from Southsea, was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of sexual activity with a child and two counts of inciting child sexual activity, all committed by a person in a position of trust.

The victim told the court: "I was a child looking for safety and love, he saw that and exploited it."

She also said that "feelings of guilt haunt me until this day".

The history teacher knew his victim "was a vulnerable girl who was having significant issues at home", prosecutors said.

He began to give her extra attention, messaging her privately and sending sexual texts and photos.

In December 2005, Waller invited the victim to his home where they had sex and she became pregnant, the trial heard.

The teacher said he would have nothing to do with the baby, although the girl later had a miscarriage, the court was told.

Waller portrayed his victim as a "liar and a fraud" and "coerced" her into not revealing the abuse at the time, Judge Michael Bowes KC said.

He told Waller: "You threw her to the wolves."

In a statement after the trial, Julia McSorley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Edward Waller used his position as a teacher to manipulate and groom a pupil, who was entrusted into his care.

"In the selfish pursuit of his own sexual gratification, he burdened her with the significant and lasting effects of this offending. The impact remains ongoing.

"I want to thank the victim for her courage and bravery in supporting this prosecution and for giving evidence."

Waller was found not guilty of rape and was also cleared of a third count of inciting child sexual activity.

The court was told the case was part of a wider police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse at the school and sixth form college.

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