"There is no fool like an old fool and that label fits you. You were a teacher and you were more than three times her age, you knew she was vulnerable."

These were the words of Judge Paul Hoffman as he jailed a 55-year-old ex-York school teacher for the sexual relationship he formed with a 15-year-old pupil.

Paul Robert Smith, 55, was acting head of information technology at Joseph Rowntree School, when he got to know a 15-year-old girl there.

Smith admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for nine months.

He was also banned from working with children again and put on the sex offenders' register for life.

Teacher's shame at abuse of pupil

A SENIOR teacher is today serving a jail term with his career in ruins after he formed a sexual relationship with a pupil.

Paul Robert Smith, 55, was acting head of information technology at Joseph Rowntree School when he got to know a 15-year-old girl there, prosecutor Alan Mitcheson said.

After he left the school in December, their relationship continued and he took her to the North York Moors, where he touched her sexually.

But she told another teacher at the York school, who alerted police, and Smith, who was then working at another school, was arrested.

"Before this, you were a decent man and a respected teacher," the Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told him. "You have been an utter fool, as you yourself would be the first to acknowledge.

"There is no fool like an old fool, and that label fits you.

"You acted in breach of trust. You were a teacher and you were more than three times her age, you had a duty of care towards her, you knew she was vulnerable."

Smith, who had an address in Gosport, admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for nine months.

He was also banned from working with children, and put on the sex offenders' register for life.

Mr Mitcheson said Smith was acting head of the computer department at the north York secondary school from September to December 2006.

The girl started coming to his office and meeting him at lunchtimes. They spent time together after school and he would help her with her homework.

After his York contract expired, he moved to a permanent job in Boston, Lincolnshire and twice travelled north to meet her.

He touched her sexually during a day out on the North York Moors.

By his second trip north, it was clear she had formed a "very close inappropriate relationship with him" said Mr Mitcheson.

But he did nothing to discourage her.

They took a walk in a field on the moors and fondled her more intimately.

"He was intending to form a long term relationship with the girl when she had reached the age of majority for the purposes of the law," said Mr Mitcheson, meaning when she turned 16.

After the girl told the second teacher, she alerted him and he left his Boston school and went on the run, touring northern England until he was arrested.

For Smith, Anne Munday denied that he had gone on the run. His Boston job had come to an end and he had a period of leave.

The girl appeared to seek him out while he was at the York school, and she got his email address.

He was thoroughly ashamed of his actions, and had no intention of continuing the relationship on his release from jail.