DERBY TEACHER CHRISTOPHER DAVIS SENTENCED OVER INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH PUPIL

In January 2019, a Derby teacher, Christopher Davis, who formed an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl at Lees Brook Community School in Chaddesden, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register following a court ruling. Derby Crown Court heard that Davis, aged 32, kissed the girl when they were alone after school, sent her messages, and took her on long drives into the countryside. The court was told that the relationship began while Davis was employed as an English teacher. In one message, he expressed his feelings, saying, “I think about you,” before they started going for walks in the Derbyshire Dales.

The court heard that the school became aware of the relationship and suspended Davis, but it was confirmed that no sexual activity had occurred and that this was not a case of grooming. Judge Shaun Smith sentenced Davis to a 12-month community order, stating, “What you did was morally wrong and criminally wrong and because it was criminally wrong the matter has ended up here at the crown court. You have to be sentenced for what you did to that young girl.” The judge acknowledged Davis’s responsibility as a teacher, adding, “There were many situations where you could have discouraged whatever was happening but you did not do that. I do not assess this as grooming but you made a decision to hug and kiss this girl. During the Christmas period you took advantage of your relationship with her and you went out on two occasions for days out during which you kissed her. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Prosecutor Stephen Kemp explained that in 2017, Davis was working at Lees Brook Community School and that his relationship with the student quickly became inappropriate. “There were emails between them and contact on social media outside the school period,” Mr Kemp said. “The defendant sent her a message in which he said ‘I think about you’. There were extra teachings after school and, on occasion, they would be alone, during which he would hug her and kiss her on the head.”

In December 2017, Davis, of Francis Drive, Loughborough, met the girl at a car park near her home and they went out in his car. He had placed a Christmas card and gift in her bag, then kissed her on the lips. They spent the day in the Ashbourne and Matlock areas, walking and kissing throughout. Days later, they went for another drive into the countryside.

Davis was arrested in January 2018 after the school reported the matter to police. During his police interview, Davis stated that no sexual activity had taken place. He later pleaded guilty to having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Representing Davis, Adrian Reynolds highlighted positive references from members of the public, describing him as someone who “dedicated his life to helping others,” and said, “To say this behaviour is out of character is something of an understatement. If ever there was a case where the conviction is the real punishment, then this is it.”

In addition to the community order, Judge Smith ordered Davis to register as a sex offender for five years. A statement from Northworthy Trust, which oversees Lees Brook Community School, issued immediately after Davis's conviction, confirmed his suspension and disciplinary proceedings. The statement read: “Mr Christopher Davis was suspended from duty as a teacher of English at Lees Brook Community School on January 8, 2018. The school referred the matter immediately to the Local Authority Designated Officer and the police. A multi-agency strategy meeting was convened, and the school conducted an internal investigation. This led to a disciplinary hearing where it was decided that Mr Davis should be dismissed for gross professional misconduct. The matter has been referred to the Teacher Regulatory Body and the Disclosure and Barring Service.”