Female UK drama teacher guilty 'grooming' teenage pupil

A British drama teacher has been found guilty of grooming a teenage pupil for sex.

Caroline French (aged 38) was on trial at Preston Crown Court, accused of targeting one of her female pupils while she was a teacher at a secondary school in Blackpool.

French, from Darlington, denied the allegations, claiming she is not gay and that her former pupil was lying. However, a jury found French guilty of three acts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child.

Andrew Nuttall, defending, said a custodial sentence would follow, adding that his client's career is "ruined" and that "her life is in tatters".

During the trial the jury was told French "plied" the teenage pupil with alcohol as she "groomed" her for sex.

Richard Howarth, opening the trial for the prosecution, said French began a relationship with the girl after she had stepped in to stop the 13-year-old from being bullied.

He said the victim was "vulnerable" as her mother had a drinking problem and at the same time was starting to question her own sexuality. The offences were said to have taken place between September 2002 and April 2004.

Mr Howarth said: "What the Crown say is that over that period of time there was a process by which the defendant groomed the complainant."

French went on to have a relationship with another girl who she taught at a different school in the Lancashire town, the jury was told. The girl moved into French's home in St Annes when she was 16 and a sixth-form student.

They then began a sexual relationship which lasted three years and that the girl changed her surname by deed poll to French. Giving evidence, French, of Ashtree Close, claimed the girl was her lodger. French was granted bail and will appear back at the court on May 13 for sentencing.