SEAN BETTINSON JAILS IN LONDON FOR ABUSING UNDERAGE STUDENT
A former sports teacher who engaged in a long-term sexual relationship with an underage student at a public school costing £6,000 a year was visibly emotional in court as he was sentenced to 16 months in prison.Sean Bettinson, 49, had established a relationship with the victim, a girl he befriended through her parents, beginning when she was just 12 years old.
Over time, their connection progressed from innocent kisses to various sexual activities, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
Sitting behind a screen during the hearing, the victim described her feelings of fear and shame at the time, which later evolved into feelings of anger and hatred as she grew older.
Bettinson, from New Malden in southwest London, was seen sobbing with his head down as his barrister requested a suspended sentence.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault and two counts of abuse of a position of trust.
To protect the victim from further distress, two additional counts of indecent assault and abuse of trust were not pursued.
The now adult victim reported the abuse to police in October 2016 after confronting Bettinson about their relationship and secretly recording their conversation.
She recalled, "I was an outgoing, friendly, happy child with a big smile.
I was happy and carefree.
I was 12 when he first appeared." She described her victimization as relentless, beginning from her early childhood, with Bettinson befriending her and her family, and texting her when he was not physically present.
She expressed shame about her experiences, saying, "It was all consuming, I had trouble facing him.
I didn’t realize how serious or wrong it was at the time.
As the years went on, I found it harder and harder, with deep hurt, hate, and anger inside me." The court heard that the victim suffered multiple breakdowns and felt the trauma consuming her life.
She shared her long-lasting feelings, stating, “The specific impact of child trauma takes over everything.
It’s possible I might not be here at all.
I wonder if I will ever be free from these negative feelings or if I’ll ever be able to move past this.” She questioned Bettinson’s sense of justification, reflecting on how he felt entitled to do this to her, despite knowing the harm it would cause.
She also criticized how Bettinson manipulated her and her family for years to maintain control.
"He was my teacher, supposed to protect me, but instead, he abused his position of authority.
I will never forget or forgive what he did," she concluded.
Judge Simon Davis addressed Bettinson directly during sentencing, stating, "You took advantage of her, abusing her physically and sexually over several years, as she moved through her GCSEs and into her later exams.
While she described their relationship as ‘consensual’ in a general sense, it’s clear from her account and her words that she only fully understood the implications and consequences of what had happened through therapy and reflection." The judge emphasized that Bettinson’s awareness of the abuse and its impact was evident, stating, "He knew what he was doing and the lasting effect it would have on her.
He continued to manipulate her and her family for many years to control her.
He was her teacher, meant to keep her safe, but he exploited his role instead.
I will never forget or forgive him for his actions." Prosecutor Michael Shaw explained that Bettinson had accompanied the victim on several school trips abroad prior to their relationship, during which he appeared to give her special attention.
The relationship started during her GCSE years, continuing into her A-level studies, developing into a long-term sexual relationship.
The relationship, he noted, was technically consensual, but under UK law, individuals under 16 cannot legally consent to sex.
Following the end of the relationship, the survivor struggled with the emotional aftermath, confronting Bettinson in 2016.
Bettinson first appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court in November 2020, and after a trial scheduled for 2022, he pleaded guilty at Crown Court on March 30.
According to his online profiles, Bettinson was a mathematics and sports teacher, later becoming the head of department at a secondary school, before eventually managing the England 7s Rugby team.
He admitted to three counts of indecent assault and two counts of abuse of a position of trust.
Two counts of indecent assault and one of abuse of trust were left unprosecuted and remain on file.
