A teacher who had an affair with a 15-year-old pupil has been jailed for 16 months.
Alice McBrearty kissed and had sex with the boy at her parents’ home, in her car, in the classroom and at an IBIS hotel. Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the 23-year-old from Wanstead in London began a relationship with the student after befriending him on Facebook and Instagram, but was reported to police by his concerned father.
And Judge Sheelagh Canavan told McBrearty: ‘You engaged in a full-blown sexual relationship with a 15-year-old child. ‘I accept he was consenting – what 15-year-old schoolboy would turn down such an attractive offer?’ They ‘kissed passionately’ in the classroom, met up three times at her parents home and had sex in her car as well, the court heard.
And as a ‘birthday treat’ she picked the boy up from his home and took him to a nearby garage for oral sex. Lisa Matthews, prosecuting, said they became ‘besotted’ with each other and the teacher had convinced herself the relationship was a ‘great romance.’ Several members of staff raised concerns and repeatedly warned her that she was getting too close the pupil but the affair continued.
As she jailed McBrearty, who now delivers parcels for Amazon, Judge Sheelagh Canavan told her the case was a ‘spectacular fall from grace’. The court heard McBrearty took the boy to an IBIS hotel where she told him to wait outside, before going in to book a room and calling him to tell him which room to come into.
The relationship unravelled after the boy’s father went to police on May 8, afraid that McBrearty was grooming his son after seeing calls between the pair. The boy was interviewed by police with social services, where he admitted the affair. The court heard the relationship began in January, when McBrearty followed the boy on social media and asked for his phone number.
The teacher wept throughout the hearing.
The prosecutor said: ‘He felt special and accepted it. She took him out to Olympic Park, they went for strolls and out for meals. ‘They got close and appeared to be besotted with each other, they spoke about the future. ‘The first sexual encounter took place at her home address in February half term.’
Emma Shafton, defending, said McBrearty was demoralised after being ‘thrown in at the deep end’ teaching subjects with little experience having just completed a Teach First programme.
Ms Shafton said: ‘She detested her job, and that is why instead of socialising with her colleagues she socialised with students in the classroom.’Ms Shafton added: ‘She is from a hard working family, and has a university degree.
