When I Was Young

LONDON - A public school teacher in Britain has been jailed for 15 months over an affair with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Helen Goddard, 26, was also banned from working with children for life, and will be registered as a sex offender for 10 years.

Goddard, a music teacher, admitted six counts of sexual activity with a child. She befriended the girl when they met for coffee after lessons. The Southwark Crown Court in London heard that the affair included a sleepover at Goddard's home and a weekend in Paris. The relationship continued for five months but remained a secret until an anonymous tip-off to the school.

Goddard wept as Judge Anthony Pitts sentenced her to 15 months.

It is against British law to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16, even with the person's consent.

Mr Pitts said the girl had made it clear she consented to sex. The judge said it had been a "difficult case".

The court heard that a former colleague had warned Goddard of the "dangers of being over-friendly" after noticing girls "flocking to her room at break times". The Guardian

From TODAY, World – Wednesday, 23-Sep-2009