GARETH LYONS FROM ST HELENS AND SWINTON EXPOSED FOR TEACHER'S BETRAYAL IN MERSEYSIDE

In a deeply distressing case that has shocked the local communities of St Helens and Swinton, a mother has spoken out about her profound sense of betrayal by a teacher who exploited her teenage daughter’s trust. The incident came to light when Gareth Lyons, a 30-year-old educator, admitted in court last week to abusing his position of authority to engage in inappropriate sexual conduct with one of his pupils.

Lyons, who was employed as a business teacher at a high school in St Helens, confessed to acts that included kissing and hugging the young girl, whom he described as an emotional support during his personal struggles with an eating disorder. The teacher’s actions appeared to be motivated by a complex mix of emotional dependency and manipulation, which ultimately led to a series of inappropriate exchanges.

The victim, a teenage girl, initially believed her interactions with Lyons were innocent, thinking it was merely a schoolgirl crush. Her mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous, recounted her efforts to intervene when she first became aware of Lyons’ inappropriate behavior. She told Lyons to cease his advances, but despite her warnings, the teacher continued to seek her daughter’s support, turning to her as an emotional crutch.

Over time, the relationship between Lyons and the girl became more complicated. The pair began exchanging secret, suggestive, and sexual text messages, which raised alarm bells for the mother. The situation escalated when Lyons wrote of his feelings for the girl in her leaving school book. When confronted a second time about his conduct, Lyons promised to stop, but the pattern of secrecy persisted.

Several months later, further evidence of inappropriate communication surfaced when more secret texts were discovered. This prompted the girl’s mother to contact the police, leading to Lyons’ arrest and subsequent court proceedings. During the trial, Lyons attempted to shift blame onto the girl, claiming that she was responsible for the situation. However, the mother emphasized that as a teacher, Lyons held a position of authority and responsibility, which he exploited.

She expressed her feelings of frustration and anger, stating, “Every time I confronted him he promised to stop and played on his illness so I felt sorry for him and didn’t go to the authorities. I felt that somehow I would be betraying him if I went to his bosses because of his illness. But he didn’t stop. He manipulated me and my daughter.”

She also acknowledged that she understood her daughter’s initial crush, noting that many girls develop feelings for teachers at some point. However, she emphasized that Lyons should have backed off once he realized her daughter’s feelings, instead of continuing to manipulate her. The mother made it clear that if she had suspected any physical relationship or something more serious, she would have immediately involved the school and law enforcement.

Upon sentencing, Lyons, who resides in Swinton, Manchester, was given a supervision order lasting three years. He was also mandated to attend a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years. The mother concluded her statement by expressing her hope that Lyons receives the help he needs, saying, “I didn’t want him to go to prison. He needs help.”