Former Hatch End High School teacher jailed for sex with pupil

He was sentenced this week to four months' imprisonment for the first count and 16 months' imprisonment for the second count, to run concurrently.

Police and social services were first contacted by staff at Hatch End on January 21, 2009, after they heard that the defendant had formed an inappropriate relationship with a pupil at the school.

Duffy, who worked there at the time, was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and taken to Harrow Police Station where he was later bailed.

During the course of the investigation officers collected evidence that Duffy had developed a friendship with the victim at school which he then took further by carrying out inappropriate conversations with her on Facebook, MSN messenger and finally by getting her mobile phone number.

He attempted to meet with her outside school on several occasions, which she declined. Duffy persisted and the victim eventually agreed to meet him.

On the first occasion he engaged in non-penetrative sexual activity with the victim and on the second occasion the encounter resulted in sexual intercourse.

A friend of the victim told staff at the school what had happened and police were informed immediately. Duffy was charged on April 13 this year.

DC Adam Bailey, from the Met Police child abuse investigation team, said: "This has been a long investigation taking nearly two years to collect all the evidence, deal with the many witnesses interviewed and bring the case to court, working closely with our partner agencies.

"I would like to thank the victim and her family for their on-going support and bravery throughout this process; it has been a very difficult time for them.

"I hope this conviction encourages any further victims of this type of crime to come forward and report it to police so that we can prosecute those who use their position of trust to prey on under-age children."

Duffy had previously pleaded guilty to the crimes at court on July 26. He will now also be required to sign the sex offenders register, for an indefinite period.