Former school teacher jailed for sex offences

Leo Norman groomed teenage pupils for several years, the court heard

A former teacher has been jailed for 14 months for sexually abusing three teenage girls.

Leo Norman groomed pupils at St Anne's Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Southampton and touched them inappropriately, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

The 46-year-old, of Peartree Avenue, Southampton, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

Prosecutors said Norman "exhibited a deeply troubling pattern of behaviour over a number of years".

One of his victims told the court that other adults at the school knew what was happening but failed to act.

Reading a statement, she said: "He was in the wrong. He was a teacher and I was a pupil.

"I was not safe at St Anne's. No-one thought to protect me or anyone else."

In another statement read by a barrister, a second woman said: "You have impacted my life significantly and I have recurring nightmares."

The offences involved pupils at St Anne's Catholic School and Sixth Form College

Norman, who taught English and media, committed the offences in his office and elsewhere on the school premises between 2014 and 2019.

Prosecutors said he paid the girls compliments and took an interest in their personal lives to build trust.

His advances left his victims feeling confused and uncomfortable, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Specialist Prosecutor Melissa Garner said: "Teachers have a role to protect and safeguard children. Norman chose to do the opposite.

"I would like to thank the victims for their courage in reporting these offences and continuing to support the prosecution to secure his conviction and protect others."

The defendant was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

In a statement, the school said: "First and foremost, it is important that the bravery of the three women who came forward, and whose actions led to this conviction, is rightly acknowledged.

"While there are just a handful of our oldest pupils at the school who would have encountered this teacher during their time with us, we will of course be monitoring our students closely over the coming days and weeks.

"Our safeguarding culture, processes and practices have been reviewed extensively over the last few years – and the feedback is consistently very positive."