A high school science teacher, who admitted to having sex with two underage students and indecently assaulting another, was jailed this week.
The 31-year-old, who was not identified in court, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in High Court on Monday. He had previously pleaded guilty to eight charges, including having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16, and indecent assault.
During sentencing yesterday, Mr. Justice Andrew Chan said the defendant had abused his position of authority for his own personal gain.
Citing the defendant’s psychological report, Chan said the teacher had a cavalier attitude towards sex, and saw the trust that students placed in him as something to be exploited.
The 31-year-old allegedly began dating a then-14-year-old student, identified in court as Z, in March 2014. The pair reportedly began having sex a month later.
In July 2015, he began a clandestine relationship with a second student, identified as X, which ended later that month after he sexually assaulted her at a cinema.
Later that month, the defendant then began seeing a third student, a 15-year-old girl identified as Y. He took her virginity a month later, the court heard.
At a previous hearing, the teacher said he and Z were in a consensual relationship that “isn’t just about sex”.
Z reportedly wrote a letter pleading the court to hand her “boyfriend” a lenient sentence, and said she would wait for his release from prison.
Those who are found guilty of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 are liable to a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, while indecent assault bears a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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