JANETTE KILNER, TEACHER IN SOUTH EAST LONDON, JAILED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH STUDENT WHILE INVOLVED IN DOGGING ACTIVITIES

In December 2013, Janette Kilner, a 33-year-old drama teacher in South East London, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of having sexual encounters with a 16-year-old pupil. The court heard that Kilner, who had been recently appointed deputy head of drama at her college, developed a romantic relationship with the student after he gave her a Christmas card and bracelet. She initially arranged for him to receive extra tuition, but their interactions soon involved explicit texts and emails, culminating in a series of sexual encounters.

According to court testimony, Kilner’s relationship with the student progressed over several months, eventually leading to six sexual encounters. The last took place in July, when she picked him up in her car and drove to her home in Dagenham, Essex. Prosecutor Gary Pons described the incident: “It was during 2013 that their relationship developed beyond a teacher-pupil relationship. They exchanged email addresses and phone numbers and began sending each other text messages plainly and clearly sexual in nature. Miss Kilner would pick him up in her car, and there was improper behaviour during these journeys. Matters progressed to kissing as they drove around the neighbourhood. On July 10, Miss Kilner picked up the boy by a park and drove him to her house where they began to kiss. She then helped remove his trousers as they watched TV. She wanted him to go upstairs, but he initially refused because he had no condom. Eventually, they went upstairs and had full intercourse.”

Further details revealed that during this period, Kilner was engaging in casual sex with strangers, meeting them in car parks for sexual encounters. Rumours about her inappropriate behaviour circulated at St Thomas the Apostle College in Nunhead, where she had taught for five years. She was suspended on July 27 before her arrest.

In her interview with police, Kilner admitted to having sex in public places with strangers of both sexes during her relationship with the pupil. She claimed that the student had consented to the sexual activity, but the court rejected her defense. She was convicted on six charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. She received a 14-month prison sentence and was disqualified from teaching.

Judge Judith Hughes described the case as “tragic,” adding, “This is a serious breach of trust. It must be noted the boy was a willing participant, but that does not excuse the behaviour as you were a teacher at his school.”