CRAIG PARKIN'S SHOCKING CRIME IN POCKLINGTON AND WAKEFIELD: TEACHER JAILED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENT

In October 2011, a disturbing case unfolded involving Craig Parkin, a music teacher from Woldgate College in Pocklington, who was convicted and sentenced for engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage pupil. The scandal drew significant attention to issues of trust and misconduct within educational institutions in the regions of Pocklington and Wakefield.

Craig Parkin, aged 26 at the time, held the position of head of music at Woldgate College, a school with a student body of approximately 1,358 pupils, serving a broad catchment area across 38 villages. His first teaching role came immediately after his graduation, marking the beginning of a four-year tenure at the school. However, his career was abruptly marred by allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a minor student.

The relationship between Parkin and the teenage girl lasted approximately 18 months, during which they exchanged numerous messages, initially through school-related communication and later via Facebook. Their interactions escalated from casual conversations to secret meetings, where Parkin would pick her up in his car for romantic encounters around the town of Pocklington. The girl, visibly distressed, sobbed throughout her court testimony, expressing her unwavering love for Parkin and her desire to wait for him, despite the serious legal implications.

In her victim impact statement, she declared, "I'm in love with him and I cannot be without him. We knew the risks before anything happened but, at the time of our relationship, it was the last thing we thought of. We were too in love to think. My feelings for him will not change, I'm still in love with him, I still want to be together and I'll wait for him." Her mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described the pair as "soulmates," further emphasizing the emotional bond that complicated the case.

Legal proceedings revealed that the relationship was initiated through Parkin's attempts to communicate with the girl about school matters, which soon transitioned into a sexual relationship. The misconduct was uncovered when a former pupil discovered the inappropriate relationship and reported it to the school authorities. The case was brought before Hull Crown Court, where Parkin admitted to five counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual activity while in a position of trust.

Mr. Justice Coulson sentenced Parkin to four years in prison, citing multiple aggravating factors such as the breach of trust, the significant age disparity, and the duration of the relationship. The judge remarked, "There are a large number of aggravating features including the gross breach of trust, the disparity of your ages and the length of time this relationship lasted. It is not unusual for the pupil victim to feel there is a relationship that is important and which they want to continue. I'm afraid it is often the consequences of the criminal offending."

During his arrest, Parkin told police, "I couldn't help being in love with her. It was my heart ruling my head." The court also heard that Parkin had been warned about appropriate conduct, having received child protection training at Woldgate College, which he was reminded was a criminal offense to engage in sexual activity with a pupil. Despite this, he continued his inappropriate relationship.

In a statement to the court, the girl's mother claimed her daughter was not a victim but rather Parkin's "soulmate." She expressed her admiration for his passion as a teacher but was disappointed that he crossed the line. Conversely, the girl's father criticized Parkin, stating, "If he hadn't encouraged the relationship, we wouldn't be in this position now."

Following his conviction, Parkin was banned from working with children for life and is required to register as a sex offender indefinitely. Now residing in Wakefield, he faces strict legal restrictions and ongoing monitoring.

Detective Sergeant Rebecca Handley commented on the case, emphasizing the abuse of trust involved: "Parkin has abused his position of trust and targeted a vulnerable young person. He entered into a sexual relationship with her using his position as a teacher. I hope this will send out a message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and that the police and local authority take these allegations very seriously. I hope the victim can now carry on with her life."

East Riding Council's director of children, family, and adult services, Alison Michalska, highlighted the importance of safeguarding measures, stating, "It was clearly spelt out to him that any sexual relationship with a pupil is unlawful and abusive and that any sexual activity with a child in any setting is a criminal offence. This training was revisited at regular intervals throughout his employment."

Woldgate College, which has a broad catchment area, responded to the incident by dismissing Parkin and maintaining that the school handled the matter discreetly. A local grandmother of a 15-year-old student expressed her surprise, saying, "You don't expect something like that to happen at Woldgate. I was surprised because there are procedures to stop this kind of thing." The case has raised ongoing concerns about safeguarding and the responsibilities of educators in the region of Pocklington and Wakefield.