Teacher jailed for two years for abusing girl
A WOMAN shortlisted for London’s Sports Teacher of the Year broke down as she was jailed for two years for having a sexual relationship with a pupil.
Sports tutor Erin Hebblewhite, 29, admitted seven offences including abusing her position to groom and sexually abuse a 16-year-old at Connaught School for Girls.
The victim, who cannot be named, said this was the first time she had ever kissed anyone and that she had lost her virginity to Hebblewhite in restaurant toilets.
All of the charges of sexual activity, including kissing on the premises of the east London school, took place in the same year Hebblewhite was shortlisted for the award.
The offending came to light when the teenager’s phone was seized by her mother, and a family member was able to find explicit messages despite pleas from Hebblewhite for the girl to delete them.
Prosecutor Fiona Bryan told Snaresbrook Crown Court: “[The complainant] felt like she had given in to pressure to behave more and more sexually from the defendant. Ms
viewed it as playing hard to get but actually this was because she (the teenager) was inexperienced and nervous.
“Around Valentine’s Day, they went on a date. On that date, they had sex in the lavatory of the restaurant.
“The complainant had been a virgin up to that point.
“She was required to hide the relationship from everyone and this alienated her from her peers, including from her best friend who she had known since they were 10 years old. Moving forward into May and June, the defendant broke up with her partner who moved out and that allowed [the teenager] to come over and this became a regular occurrence.
“Photographs were taken of the two of them together. She said she didn’t want them to be taken but felt pressurised.
“Another occasion was when Ms Hebblewhite tried to pressure her into having sex in the toilets in Primark.
“She said no but recalled her being forceful and persistent.”
Ms Bryan added: “This relationship came to an end because [the complainant’s] family found out and that triggered police being notified.
“The defendant’s concern was for herself. She begged the girl to delete the messages and erase her phone.
“She was arrested on October 28, her home was searched and a USB stick containing 400 relevant images including both the defendant and [the complainant] naked and in bed together as well as images of them kissing as a couple.”
Hebblewhite’s lawyer Bethan Rogers said: “She is painfully aware the damage to the victim is both wideHebblewhite ranging and likely to be there for a significant period of time.
“Nonetheless, there was genuine affection and caring on her part.”
Ms Rogers added: “Through her selfishness and her stupidity, this defendant has utterly destroyed what was a promising career.”
Judge Neil Sanders said: “There were rumours going around the school and, in fact, the school warned you to be careful as you could get into trouble.
Tears
“I have read the victim’s personal statement and [the victim] describes feeling guilty and shame and depression, PTSD and feeling suicidal.”
He jailed Hebblewhite and imposed a 10-year restraining order and sexual harm prevention order banning her from contacting the victim or working with children in any capacity.
Hebblewhite, an Australian now living in Brighton, broke down in tears and tried to speak to her girlfriend in the public gallery.
Her victim attended the sentencing hearing alone but was assisted by a police victim support officer.