Married US teacher who got teen pupil pregnant jailed for 3 years

LONDON - A married US teacher, who got a teenage girl pregnant, has been jailed for three years.

Timothy King’s ‘glittering career’ was left in tatters after one of the girl’s friends spotted messages of a sexual nature being exchanged between them on the social networking site.

King, 32, a father-of-one who taught graphic design at a secondary school in Boston, Lincolnshire, was suspended after police were alerted earlier this year.

King invited the 15-year-old pupil to his house while his wife and four-year-old son were away, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

He also had unprotected sex with her in his car and at a Travelodge hotel, the court was told.

In a victim impact statement, which the girl read out in court, she described feeling “used and betrayed” by King and having guilty thoughts about his wife, family and the termination.

The court heard King was an experienced teacher with a “glittering” ten-year record of improving class performances.

Rob Townsend, prosecuting, told the court that King began seeing the girl for a “kiss and cuddle” after she invited him to be her friend on Facebook.

“He accepted the invitation and they began exchanging messages of a sexual nature,” the Daily Mail quoted Townsend as saying.

By early 2010 the girl thought she was in relationship with King after he confided in her that his marriage was in difficulty.

The girl finally fell pregnant in May and felt unable to tell her parents.

“He took her to a clinic for a termination but had to leave because he had other engagements. She walked home alone,” Townsend added.

King, who had no previous convictions, at first denied having a relationship with the girl when he was questioned by police, but then quickly admitted the whole affair.

King, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, admitted six charges of sexual activity with the girl, continuing until she was 16.

Judge Sean Morris told King: “I have seen every single Facebook comment, there seems to be a degree of grooming.”

King was also banned from working with children and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. (ANI)