TEACHER HAD RELATIONSHIP WITH PUPIL
A teacher from Blackburn involved in a school in Padiham engaged in a sexual relationship with a pupil aged 15.Amir Makda, aged 32 and residing on Briar Road, Blackburn, was employed at Shuttleworth College and conducted meet-ups with the student after school hours.
He also took her for rides in his vehicle and exchanged sexual messages with her.
The relationship began when Makda sent her a message asking her to accept direct messages on Twitter (now known as X).
Over time, their communications became more sexual, leading to meetings outside school premises, including an incident where Makda sexually touched the girl while they kissed.
Despite the physical contact, Makda respected her boundaries, and no further sexual activity occurred.
Prosecutor Francis McEntee highlighted that the case involved elements of subtle grooming.
There were discussions about marriage, relocating to Dubai, and future plans if they continued their relationship.
When questioned by the school's headteacher, Makda claimed they were only friends and insisted he told her they could not date until two years after she left school.
A statement from the headteacher indicated Makda showed a significant lack of understanding of his inappropriate behaviour.
Ultimately, the victim ended the relationship because her friends disapproved, and she was concerned about losing her friendship group.
Makda pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to an alternative charge of engaging in sexual activity with a child and had already admitted to sexual communications.
During mitigation, Alexander Bennie stated Makda now regrets his actions and recognized he had damaged his teaching career.
A pre-sentence report rated his risk of reoffending as low.
Judge Andrew Jeffries accepted Mr McEntee's submission regarding grooming and said Makda had made a "catalogue of mistakes" in the build-up to the sexual activity offence.
He said it was a "gross breach of trust as a teacher." Makda was jailed for 15 months.
An indefinite restraining order was imposed between him and the victim, and he was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.
