Married Teacher Jailed For Affair With 16-Year-Old Pupil

Married Teacher Jailed For Affair With 16-Year-Old Pupil
Cavendish

A married teacher who had sex with a pupil in his car has been jailed for 18 months.

Father-of-two Harri Williams, 43, used his office to kiss and fondle the infatuated 16-year-old, a court was told.

The business studies teacher also took her on trips to ten pin bowling alleys, the cinema and for romantic meals. He also took her on the London Eye-style big wheel in Liverpool city centre before having sex with her in his car.

Liverpool Crown Court heard she had 'taken her opportunity to kiss him' when they were seated next to each other at a school prom in the Wirral in 2012. She said she 'felt excited' about the affair and told him she loved him.

But the scandal emerged when the girl confided in her friends about her married lover and one of them told her mother, who went to the school.

The girl later told police: "I now think that what he did was wrong but he did not force me to do anything I did not want to do or tell me to keep anything secret."

Williams, who was suspended as head of his department at a secondary school where he has taught for 18 months, initially denied an affair but later confessed.

In a statement he said: "There are no excuses. I crossed the line. In the cold light of day, I knew what I was doing. I was old enough to be her father. I will fall on my sword. I will be struck off."

He pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of authority and one count of inciting sexual activity.

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, said: "She was clearly infatuated with you. I'm afraid you used your position to take advantage of that fact.

"It was she who initiated that contact, holding hands with you at a school event.

"You engaged in sexual contact with her in your office on school premises.

"You continued to see her even after you were suspended. As you said, you were old enough to be her father.

"You were an academically excellent teacher who achieved excellent results.

"It's very sad to see somebody in your position with their career at an end. You've lost your job."

Williams of Wallasey Village, Wirral, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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