RICHARD ARISS FROM EXETER JAILED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF 14-YEAR-OLD PUPIL
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Exeter community, Richard Ariss, a 29-year-old former teacher, has been sentenced to a year in prison for engaging in sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old girl, whom he had previously taught at a school in the Plymouth area.The court heard that Ariss’s inappropriate relationship with the girl, referred to only as Pupil A, was characterized by grooming, manipulation, and sexual exploitation, which ultimately led to the girl’s severe emotional distress and an attempted suicide.
Ariss’s misconduct came to light after the girl’s mother discovered that her daughter was involved in sexting with him just before their scheduled private tutoring session.
The mother’s discovery prompted her to contact the police, revealing that Ariss had been sending explicit messages to her daughter via Facebook.
The court was informed that Ariss had instructed the girl to delete certain texts and messages from a private Facebook account and had advised her to save his contact information under a pseudonym, 'random male.' Prosecutor Peter Coombe detailed the gravity of the situation during the hearing in March, explaining that the messages from Ariss included encouragement for the girl to perform sexual acts on herself.
On one occasion, he had the girl call him so he could listen to her.
The court was told that these actions were not impulsive but part of a calculated grooming process, involving significant planning and breach of trust.
Tragically, shortly after these revelations, the girl overdosed on paracetamol, and her mother found farewell letters addressed to friends, including one to Ariss, indicating they had planned to meet.
The messages and behavior demonstrated a disturbing pattern of grooming, with Ariss inciting the girl to engage in sexual acts and suggesting she perform oral sex on him.
The court described his actions as grossly inappropriate and a clear breach of the safeguarding policies that should have protected the vulnerable student.
Ariss’s employment history revealed that he worked at the victim’s school from July 2010 until May 2014, initially in North Devon at Combe Martin before relocating to Exeter to take up a new teaching position in Torbay.
His misconduct was formally admitted in February of this year when he pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, specifically relating to incidents in September 2014.
He was subsequently sentenced to a year in prison for these offenses.
However, a misconduct panel’s report painted a troubling picture of Ariss’s attitude during investigations.
The panel noted that he showed little remorse and appeared primarily concerned with how the situation affected him personally.
In a letter from prison dated July 7, 2016, Ariss suggested that, had circumstances been different, he might have pursued legal action against Pupil A for harassment—an indication of his lack of insight into the gravity of his actions.
The panel emphasized that his behavior was premeditated and a classic example of grooming, with the potential for further sexual contact had the relationship not been interrupted.
The judge highlighted that Ariss’s actions disregarded safeguarding policies and exploited the vulnerability of a 14-year-old girl.
The court noted that even if Ariss was unaware of her age at the outset, he would have quickly realized her youth and vulnerability.
The impact on Pupil A was profound; she was already vulnerable, and the trauma from the abuse led her to attempt to take her own life shortly after the case concluded.
During the trial, the girl bravely took the stand, tearfully describing her suffering.
She explained how she struggled with sleep, self-harm, and an overdose, feeling responsible despite knowing she was not at fault.
She also recounted the bullying and social difficulties she faced at school, including being called names and feeling afraid to walk down corridors due to the judgmental attitudes of her peers.
In sentencing, Recorder Mr.
Andrew, QC, condemned Ariss’s conduct as a gross breach of trust and a clear case of grooming.
He emphasized that the contact between Ariss and the girl became increasingly sexualized and manipulative, with Ariss gaining her trust and encouraging her to perform sexual acts.
The court concluded that if the girl and Ariss had met, sexual contact would have almost certainly occurred.
The judge underscored that teachers are entrusted with safeguarding their pupils, not exploiting them, and that Ariss’s actions represented a calculated and premeditated betrayal of that trust.
