PAUL TRAMONTINI SHOCKS PORTSMOUTH WITH CRIME INVOLVING PUPIL AND ESCAPE

In September 2001, a disturbing case unfolded in Portsmouth involving a 34-year-old mathematics teacher named Paul Tramontini, whose actions have left the community in shock and outrage.

Tramontini was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he fled the country with a 15-year-old girl, a former pupil at Mayfield Secondary School in Portsmouth. The gravity of his misconduct was underscored by the judge at Portsmouth Crown Court, who described him as "every parent’s nightmare".

Judge David Selwood emphasized the severity of the breach of trust, stating, "You were in a position of trust and also in a position of power, and this offence represents a gross breach of that trust." The court proceedings revealed that Tramontini had developed a relationship with the young girl while she was still a student at the school. It was reported that he proposed marriage to her when she was only 14 years old, even going so far as to bring her an engagement ring, an act that compounded the seriousness of his misconduct.

In April of the previous year, the pair disappeared from the country, prompting concern and investigation. During this period, the girl’s parents received a letter from her, postmarked from Rome, in which she expressed her intention to marry Tramontini. This letter confirmed that the couple had traveled abroad, and it was believed they were attempting to start a life together.

However, by June, the girl returned to Britain, and Tramontini eventually surrendered himself to the police authorities. He faced charges of abduction and perverting the course of justice, to which he admitted at an earlier hearing.

The judge criticized Tramontini’s actions, stating, "The relationship should not have been allowed to develop." He further explained, "You were the adult, you were the person in the driving seat, and someone in your position would be seen by all parents everywhere as someone who should have taken a different path."

Concluding his remarks, Judge Selwood highlighted the importance of deterrence, saying, "The public will expect a degree of deterrent in the sentence today because you, and whatever you say, are every parent’s nightmare if you think about it." The case has left a lasting impact on the Portsmouth community, raising questions about safeguarding and the responsibilities of educators.