Paedophile caretaker spared jail

Martin was living in school grounds

A convicted paedophile who was living in the grounds of a primary school in Hertfordshire has been spared prison.

Timothy Martin, 34, had been living in a school cottage at Beechfield School in Watford, since being offered the job of caretaker last July.

In May, he was convicted of sexual activity with a child following a trial at St Albans Crown Court.

He received a two-year community order, a 12-month supervision order and was banned from contacting the victim.

The father-of-two was also disqualified from working with children indefinitely and must sign the sex offenders register for five years.

I think you were just drunk and being extremely badly behaved Judge John Plumstead

Police checks had been carried out on Martin when he was offered the caretaker position at the school, but no charges had been brought against him at that time.

Hertfordshire County Council started proceedings to evict him from the school cottage when he was charged last September for an offence against a girl, who was not a pupil at the school.

Martin was immediately suspended from his job following the allegations, but he was able to remain at the cottage because of his tenancy agreement.

The council won the right to evict him on appeal in a civil case at Watford County Court in May.

Handing down sentence on Tuesday, Judge John Plumstead told Martin: "You made a pass at an underage girl. To be kissed by a man she hardly knew was something she was not ready for and it has worried her.

"I think you were just drunk and being extremely badly behaved."