Woman teacher is caught in bed with two girl pupils
A TEACHER who shared a bed with two of her pupils is facing jail after admitting sexual relationships with both girls.
Pe mistress Sandrine Brown, 31, had liaisons with the girls between 2008 and 2012 while they were pupils at the secondary school where she was teaching.
A court heard that one was 13 or 14 when the relationship began, while the other was 16.
Prosecutor Graeme Simpson said: ‘There is evidence that there was an occasion when all three were in bed together, but no evidence of any sexual activity on that occasion.’
Brown admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity where she did not believe her to be over the age of 18 and while she was in a position of trust as a teacher.
She also admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust. She faces a maximum of 14 years in prison when she is sentenced next month.
The defendant, from Coventry, taught at the city’s Finham Park School during the period when the offences were committed.
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, sitting at Warwick Crown Court, said: ‘The court is dealing here with a teacher who has abused the position of trust she was given by the education authority. It involves a gross breach of trust.’
The court heard Brown was of ‘hitherto good character’, and her barrister Lee Marklew asked for the case to be adjourned for a presentence report to be prepared.
Judge Lockhart agreed, adding: ‘ These are often matters of complex relationships which develop over a period of time and become confused. But it is a very serious matter.’
The court was told that the incitement charge and three of the counts involving sexual activity with a child related to the younger pupil. The final two counts of sexual activity with a child concerned the second teenager. Brown denied two further similar charges in relation to the girls, which was accepted by the prosecution.
Adjourning for the report to be prepared and granting Brown bail, the judge pointed out there would be ‘a notification requirement’ for her to attend a police station and register as a sex offender. Brown was the subject of broadly positive comments on the ‘ratemyteacher’ website during her tenure at Finham Park School.
One pupil, writing in abbreviated, text message fashion, said he could talk to the teacher about anything ‘as if she’s your friend lol (laugh out loud)’, while another observed that she ‘has (a) favourite though’.
Brown was arrested by West Midlands Police in April this year.
In a letter sent to parents of pupils at the secondary school at the time, executive head teacher Mark Bailie said: ‘The allegations relate to former pupils who have left the school.
‘We can confirm that no present pupils were involved. We can also confirm that Miss Brown no longer works at Finham Park School.
‘At Finham Park School we take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously and worked closely with the police and the local authority throughout their investigations.
‘Given that criminal proceedings are ongoing we are unable to make any further comment.’
There was no sign of Brown at her apartment in Coventry yesterday.
‘Abused her position’