The pregnant wife of a former Rydens Enterprise School (RES) teacher broke down in court as her husband was jailed for sexual activity with a former pupil.

Surrey Comet:

Rydens: Where Shorter was a maths teacher

Paul Shorter, 32, was given three years imprisonment at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, May 8, and was told he will spent half of his sentence behind bars before being released on licence.

Last month, Shorter, of Byron Road, Addlestone, admitted 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.

Shorter was head of mathematics at the Hersham school until he was suspended when governors became aware of the allegations against him more than a year ago.

The court heard that Shorter had kissed the victim, groped her and sexually touched her on more than one occasion.

Prosecutor Simon Connolly said the victim, who was 15 at the time of the offences, did not want sexual contact with Shorter but “never spelled that out to him”.

He added: “It may have appeared superficial that she was willing to participate. Of course, he should have seen past those superficial signs.

“She openly describes considering him to be good looking and saying that she, like other girls in the class, had kind of a crush on him.”

Mr Connolly told Judge Noel Lucas Shorter had sent emails to the victim from his school account, before switching to continue sending messages from his personal account.

In one incident, the girl sent him a picture of her prom dress to which he responded saying she “would look good with it on and without it on”, Mr Connolly added.

In mitigation, Peter Glenser, defending, described Shorter as a “young, popular, charismatic” teacher.

He said: “The complainant was a schoolgirl aged 15 and then 16.

“She was no doubt impressionable because of her age. Teachers are there to educate our children and are supposed to resist any temptation they may feel.

“He did not resist that temptation and finds himself here with all that he had ashes around his feet. His life and career are in ruins.”

The court heard Shorter was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offences and was “simply failing to cope with the demands being placed on him”.

Delivering sentence, Judge Lucas said: “When all of this occurred, you were an outstanding teacher. You were liked and respected at that school.

“It is plain to me, as I see it, you come from a highly respectable family who remain supportive of you. You are a loving husband and are shortly to become a father to your first child.

“I accept a diagnosis showed you suffered an adjustment disorder when these offences were committed.

“You will be the first to admit teachers play a vital role in society. Teachers, because of the role they perform, are trusted. What you did was to abuse the trust placed on you.”

Judge Lucas said some of his actions were similar to “all steps in the process of grooming”.

The court also heard the victim was left “extremely distressed and feeling uncomfortable at school” and Shorter’s actions caused a “significant effect” on her.

Shorter was handed a total of three years in prison for the three offences and as the sentence was read out, his wife, who is due to give birth within the month, wailed and sobbed in the public gallery.

A sexual harm prevention order was also put in place and Shorter must pay a victim surcharge.