Legal News
Dance Teacher Jailed For Grooming Teenage Pupil (14 November 2011)
Date: 14/11/2011
A dance teacher who began a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old pupil at his dance school has been handed a jail term of three years and nine months. The court has heard how Christopher Freeman’s inappropriate relationship was uncovered in December 2010. In March of this year, magistrates handed Mr. Freeman a three-year community order. Following the trial, the teenager divulged further details of their sexual activities, leading to Mr. Freeman’s re-arrest. The dance teacher later admitted his guilt to sexual activity with a child.
Judge Robert Warnock informed the court that the teenager was enthralled by the talents of Mr. Freeman, a former dance champion. Judge Warnock claimed that when Mr. Freeman was brought before magistrates for charges relating to sexual activity with the teenager, the courts had only heard “part of the story”. The court heard how Judge Warnock had failed to use contraception and that this was deemed “an aggravating feature” of the case. Mr. Freeman, of Chorley, will be listed on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life and was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mr. Freeman had contacted the girl out of class through a social networking site. In December, the girl’s mother uncovered sexual text messages from Mr. Freeman on her mobile phone. She informed the police of her findings. Mr. Freeman initially admitted to indecently touching the teenager but denied sexual intercourse.
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