Female teacher jailed after sex with pupil despite her plea 'she waited until his 16th birthday'

By Scotsman Reporter
Published 31st Oct 2019, 15:29 BST
A 25-year-old teacher who had sex with a secondary school student has been sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two suspended.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that she was a substitute teacher and he was a fifth-year student at the time.

Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as "serious", adding that she must face a custodial sentence.

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He described her as a young and inexperienced teacher at the time of the offences, adding that her behaviour brought shame and ridicule on herself.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that she was a substitute teacher and he was a fifth-year student at the time.Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that she was a substitute teacher and he was a fifth-year student at the time.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that she was a substitute teacher and he was a fifth-year student at the time.

"She abused her position of trust and authority," Judge Nolan added.

The court heard that the substitute teacher was 23 years old when she met the student in a nightclub in 2017, and they continued to communicate through social media.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the boy, waited until his 16th birthday before she had sex with him as she believed this was the age of consent.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge Nolan added: "Undoubtedly her behaviour brought shame on herself. It seems almost certain that she has lost her opportunity to teach for a considerable period of time."

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Judge Nolan said he could accept that she believed the age of consent to be 16, however he added that she was a teacher at the time and should have known the appr