Man, 35, groomed girl at school

A Birmingham primary school teaching assistant has been jailed for two-and-a-half-years after grooming a pupil despite warnings from staff.

His actions went unchecked for two years even after colleagues reported Mark Smith, 35, for being too intimate with the girl, the court heard.

Smith, of Adams Hill, Bartley Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to grooming and three charges of indecent assault.

He has been banned from working with children for life.

The grooming started when the girl was nine and continued until she left the school at the age of 11, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

You had been warned by other staff members not to get too close to the girl - but you completely ignored them and that resulted in you indecently assaulting her on three occasions Judge Williams Everard

Kevin Hegarty, prosecuting, said Smith became a friend of her family and bought all the children birthday presents.

On a school trip to a theme park Smith and the girl disappeared together and at a lunchtime gathering "behaved like a couple in a relationship".

They were separated by another teacher, but on the coach on the way back they held hands and staff reported this to the head teacher.

Mr Hegarty said Smith was only stopped when he was caught by a member of staff indecently assaulting the girl in a cupboard in the resources room.

Dozens of letters and text messages were sent to the girl by Smith, he spoke of his love for her and how he would "give up everything" and marry her one day.

'Not a predator'

When he was arrested he admitted kissing her, but denied it was in a sexual way.

Police searched his house and found women's clothes, which he claimed were for his cross-dressing fetish, along with children's toys and drawing and painting materials.

Mr Hegarty said Birmingham City Council had launched an inquiry into how Smith obtained the job and also into the reports that were made about his behaviour.

Stuart Baker, defending, said: "He is not a predator but someone with very, very low self esteem and concerns about his appearance which has caused problems with his relationships.

"He found himself in an environment where he got some affection from someone."

Judge Williams Everard told Smith: "You had been warned by other staff members not to get too close to the girl - but you completely ignored them and that resulted in you indecently assaulting her on three occasions."

Smith has been disqualified from working with children for life and having any contact with anyone under the age of 16 for five years.

He was also forbidden from associating with under-16s, or living in a residence where they were present. He will also be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.