Teacher had sex with pupil

A chemistry teacher has been jailed after admitting a series of sex assaults on a pupil.

Steven Murphy targeted the 15-year-old girl at after-school tuition sessions.

Father-of-two Murphy, of Abbey Road, Torquay admitted three cases of indecent assault.

He was jailed for three years and banned from working with children.

Cupboard kiss

Exeter Crown Court Judge Iain McKintosh told him: "It is quite clear you felt yourself to be a bit of a lad around these young girls, and particularly the victim."

The offences took place in the summer term at a South Devon school and during the summer holidays of 2000.

The victim was taking extra tuition for her GCSEs when Murphy told her to fetch stationery, followed her into the cupboard where he shut the door and kissed her, said Martin Edmunds, prosecuting.

The abuse got worse and he had sex with her after taking her to a country park in his car, the court heard.

Teacher 'warned'

He was originally accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl.

But the charge was dropped when the prosecution accepted his story that they only had full sex after the victim turned 16.

Mr Edmunds said: "He told her he would get her through her exams and be there for her and he established a dominance over her.

"She feared she would be lonely if she told anyone what was going on."

He said there were other allegations from other pupils which have been left on the file.

And there was a background of Murphy being warned previously about his over familiarity and closeness to female pupils.

Emotionally disturbed

Andrew Langdon, defending, said Murphy's marriage had broken up as a result of his behaviour and his two children had suffered because of the case.

He said: "My client regarded this as a consensual relationship, but he now knows it was abuse and an abuse of trust."

The court heard that the girl had been traumatised by the abuse and changed from a bright and successful pupil to an emotionally disturbed teenager.

After the case the head teacher of the school where Murphy worked praised the victim and other pupils for bringing the abuse to light.

He said: "The girls cannot be faulted because they did the right thing and brought this to our attention.

"The matter is now closed, but their education has been severely disrupted."