Yorkshire Teacher Jailed for Sex With Pupil

13 October 2011, 17:56 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A West Yorkshire music teacher has been jailed for four years for having a sexual relationship with a pupil who said she is still in love with him and wants to continue the relationship.

Craig Parkin's victim broke down in tears as he was jailed at Hull Crown Court for carrying out a string of intimate liaisons with the teenage girl.

Parkin pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child and two charges of sexual activity with the girl while in a position of trust.

The 26-year-old, of Manor Crescent, Walton, Wakefield,  was head of music at Woldgate College in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, at the time of the offences which spanned 18 months.

Prosecuting, Richard Woolfall said the sexual relationship began when the girl was 14 and being taught music by the defendant.

The pair began contacting each other via an in-school messaging service in a "normal'' manner between teacher and pupil.

But the pair began communicating via Facebook privately and the relationship progressed to kissing and cuddling and then advanced to sexual intercourse when she was aged 15 and Parkin had his own home.

The court was told Parkin had been engaged to a previous girlfriend but the seven-year relationship came to an end and he began seeing the schoolgirl.

Mr Woolfall said: "The complainant is still fully on the side of the defendant and hopes to have a relationship with him.''

The victim's mother said she was impressed with Parkin's talent as a teacher but thought he had "crossed the line''.

She also said in a victim impact statement she did not see him as a threat to her daughter.