MARK FIDLER SENTENCED IN DERBYSHIRE FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENT AT BELPER SCHOOL
A respected educator with a long tenure at a school in Derbyshire has been handed a prison sentence after being found guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship with a pupil.Mark Fidler, who was removed from his teaching position last year amid allegations, was visibly emotional as he appeared in court to receive his sentence.
Fidler was employed at Belper School in Derbyshire when the misconduct took place.
The victim, whose identity remains protected by law, was a teenage student at the time.
The court heard that during their inappropriate relationship, the teacher and student exchanged explicit images, including a topless photograph of the girl and pictures of her in underwear.
These images were discovered by a colleague who found them stored in a drawer within Fidler’s office.
It was also revealed that Fidler was seen alone with the girl in his classroom on multiple occasions.
The court heard that he later admitted to the authorities that they had gone away together and had engaged in sexual activity.
Furthermore, Fidler acknowledged that he had bought her various gifts, such as underwear, jewelry, and clothing, which further indicated the nature of their relationship.
Fidler, aged 49, initially pleaded guilty at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court last month.
However, due to a court order, the school’s name was not publicly disclosed at that time.
In a move to inform the public, the court proceedings in Nottingham allowed for the school’s identity to be revealed, citing the public interest in transparency.
The prosecution had requested that the media be barred from naming the school, but this was ultimately rejected by Judge Steven Coupland.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Coupland emphasized Fidler’s long-standing career, noting that he had been a teacher for over 25 years and served as head of music for several years.
The judge highlighted the breach of trust and responsibility inherent in Fidler’s role, stating, “You were in a position of responsibility and knew what the rules were about sexual contact with pupils.
Your teacher’s ethos must have told you about that.” The judge also pointed out the profound impact of Fidler’s actions on the victim, stating, “She gave no victim statement, but the reality is the damage this has caused her is impossible to quantify.” Prosecutor Leanne Summers provided details about Fidler’s employment history, revealing that he had worked at Belper School since 1993 and had been head of music since 2002.
Fidler was dismissed from his position in December 2018 following an internal investigation.
Summers explained that during the investigation, a colleague discovered a memory stick in Fidler’s office containing explicit images of the victim, including topless photos and images of her in underwear.
Fidler was arrested and admitted that the lines had become blurred in their relationship, acknowledging they had met three times a week and that the girl had stayed over at his home.
He also confessed to purchasing her gifts such as jewelry, clothes, and underwear.
As part of the police investigation, Fidler’s phone was seized, and it was found that he had searched online to determine whether his actions were illegal.
The victim was interviewed by police and confirmed that she and Fidler had been involved in a sexual relationship.
In July, Fidler pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a girl in a position of trust and possession of 13 indecent images of the victim, including 10 pictures and three videos.
During the sentencing hearing, defense lawyer Andrew Wesley described Fidler as an honest man who had started suffering from depression following a breakup with his former partner.
Wesley emphasized that Fidler had no prior convictions and that his cooperation with police was prompted by a sense of remorse.
He also noted that Fidler’s actions represented a significant lapse in judgment, driven by a loss of perspective and responsibility as an adult and educator.
