PAUL SHORTER ADDLESTONE HERSHAM TEACHER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES WITH PUPIL

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Addlestone and Hersham, Paul Shorter, a former teacher at Rydens Enterprise School, was sentenced to three years in prison for engaging in inappropriate sexual activities with a teenage girl. The court proceedings, held at Guildford Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about Shorter’s misconduct and the impact it had on his young victim.

On Friday, May 8, 2015, Judge Noel Lucas handed down the sentence after Shorter, aged 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. The court was informed that Shorter, who resided on Byron Road in Addlestone, had been a respected mathematics teacher at Hersham’s Rydens Enterprise School until suspicions arose over a year prior, leading to his suspension.

The court heard that Shorter’s relationship with the 15-year-old girl involved multiple instances of inappropriate conduct, including kissing, groping, and sexual touching. Prosecutor Simon Connolly detailed that the victim, who was a student at the school, did not want to engage in sexual contact with Shorter but did not explicitly communicate her discomfort. Mr. Connolly emphasized that her seemingly willing participation was superficial, noting that she had expressed that she found Shorter attractive and, like other girls in her class, had a crush on him.

Further evidence presented in court showed that Shorter had exchanged emails with the girl from his school account, later switching to his personal email to continue communication. One particularly troubling exchange involved the girl sending a photo of her prom dress, to which Shorter responded inappropriately, suggesting she would look good with or without it.

During the hearing, Shorter’s defense attorney, Peter Glenser, described him as a “young, popular, charismatic” teacher. He acknowledged that the girl was impressionable due to her age and that teachers are expected to resist any temptation to abuse their position. Glenser expressed remorse, stating that Shorter’s life and career were now in ruins, and highlighted that he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offenses, which contributed to his inability to cope with the pressures he faced.

Judge Lucas, in delivering the sentence, acknowledged Shorter’s previous reputation as an outstanding and well-liked teacher. The judge also noted that Shorter came from a highly respectable family and was soon to become a father, with his wife pregnant and due to give birth within the month. The judge accepted that Shorter was experiencing an adjustment disorder at the time of the offenses, but emphasized that teachers hold a position of trust that must not be abused.

He described some of Shorter’s actions as steps in the grooming process, which caused significant distress to the victim, who was left feeling uncomfortable and distressed at school. The judge condemned the breach of trust and the serious nature of the misconduct, which he said had a lasting impact on the young girl.

As the sentence was announced, Shorter’s wife, who was visibly pregnant and in the public gallery, broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. In addition to the prison term, Shorter was subject to a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to pay a victim surcharge, reinforcing the court’s stance on protecting minors from such abuse.

Earlier in April 2015, Shorter faced similar allegations when he was accused of groping a 15-year-old schoolgirl in his car during a series of inappropriate encounters. The incident occurred while he was giving her private tuition at Rydens School, a school known for notable alumni including Max Clifford and Luke Shaw. Court proceedings revealed that Shorter, a married man and father of one, had kissed the girl after class and groped her in his vehicle. The girl, who did not want a sexual relationship, had even stormed out of a tuition session when he attempted to grope her.

Shorter admitted to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. The judge was told that the girl’s feelings were not mutual, and her discomfort was evident. His family, including his pregnant wife Joanne, watched from the gallery as the charges were read.

Judge Lucas ordered an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, barring Shorter from working with children or having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18. The court also noted that Shorter had been employed in a trade unrelated to minors and was seeking psychological help to address depression. The judge warned that Shorter faced an immediate custodial sentence, emphasizing the gravity of his actions and the breach of trust involved in his misconduct.