Teacher jailed for sexual assault of teenage pupil

An ex-soldier who became a teacher has been jailed for sexually assaulting a high school pupil.

Simon Taylor, a former sergeant who was injured in Afghanistan, targeted the teenage girl while working at Hethersett Academy in Norfolk.

The 43-year-old from Marston Jabbett, Warwickshire, abused his position of trust, grooming the teenager for more than two years, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Jailing him for four-and-a-half years, Judge Andrew Shaw told Taylor the pupil mourned "the loss of her childhood stolen by you".

The court heard how in 2009, Taylor had part of his leg amputated after his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

Prosecutor Isobel Ascherson said Taylor, who has not been employed at the school since July 2021, had acted as a "friend, not a teacher" and groomed and conditioned his victim.

She said Taylor sent the victim sexual messages and if she did not send him pictures he resorted to emotional blackmail, threatening suicide.

They communicated on a school messaging platform.

After the school found Taylor had used inappropriate language he was given a written warning. He then changed how he contacted her.

The court was told the offences were not limited to school premises.

Ascherson said Taylor had used his service in the Army "as a shield" to protect him, telling police he was stalked by the teenager.

He had "told blatant lies" to the school inquiry, Ascherson said.

In mitigation, Richard English, defending, said Taylor accepted he had caused "real and great harm".

At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, the judge told Taylor: "[She] was a vulnerable child who you targeted, manipulated and groomed into believing that you were the only adult who cared for her."

Taylor had not been motivated "by genuine love or affection" but by "lustful urges".

The judge said Taylor's victim was now living a "reclusive life" and struggled to form relationships with young men her own age.

"Internally, she rages at the adults at school who failed to protect her and she mourns the loss of her childhood stolen by you."

The judge acknowledged the Army veteran's service to his country, but saw no "identifiable link" between Taylor's post-traumatic stress disorder and his decision to offend.

A spokesperson for the Inspiration Trust, which runs Hethersett Academy, said it placed the "highest priority on safeguarding and the protection of children".

"All colleagues undergo rigorous pre-employment checks, including enhanced DBS [disclosure and barring service] screening, and are subject to ongoing safeguarding training and supervision throughout their employment," they said.

"Where concerns arise, we work closely with statutory agencies to ensure swift and effective action is taken."

Det Con Hannah Spinks, of Norfolk Police, who led the investigation, said: "The courage shown by this young victim has been extraordinary."

Taylor was placed on the sex offenders register and given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was banned from contacting the victim or her parents and told he would be barred from working with children.

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