Ex-teacher jailed for sex crimes

The former deputy head teacher of a school in Norfolk has been jailed for more than five years after admitting sexual offences against a teenage girl.

Stephen Brenchley, who worked at Costessey High School, Norwich, pleaded guilty in May to four charges of sexual offences against an under-age girl.

On Monday, Brenchley, 47, of Water Lane in West Runton, Norfolk, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court.

He had also admitted a sexual assault 20 years ago on a girl of 15.

Katherine Moore, prosecuting, said Brenchley was a "dangerous and corrupting influence on two vulnerable girls and his actions directly blighted the lives of two families and his victims".

'Some closure'

Jailing him for a total of five years and three months, Judge Peter Jacobs told Brenchley: "A man in your position knows full well he does not get involved in relationships with these vulnerable girls."

Det Con Sarah Collins, a specialist child protection officer with Norfolk Police, said: "Today's result shows that any person who grossly abuses a position of trust and takes advantage of vulnerable youngsters in this way will be dealt with.

"Stephen Brenchley has lost his liberty, his good reputation and his career as a result of his actions.

"No sentence will ever make up for what he did but I hope this result goes some way to giving the two women in this case some closure and some way of moving forward after what has happened to them."