By Calvin Palmer
A female classics teacher at a private school for boys in northwest England denied having sex with a teenage student as she made her first appearance in court.
Hannah McIntyre, 25, is accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old at her home near Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School in Crosby, Merseyside.
McIntyre went into the witness box at South Sefton Magistrates Court, in Bootle, this morning, to deliver her not guilty plea to one charge of sexually touching a male student, aged 17, whom she had reason to believe was over the age of 18.
The alleged offence is said to have taken place at her home in Winstanley Road, Waterloo, near the private £2,727 ($4,476)-a-term day school.
Lyn Ingham, prosecuting, said it was the Crown’s case that “sexual intercourse” had taken place.
Miss McIntyre, who has taught at the school since September 2007, was arrested in January this year, but the actual offence was alleged to have taken place 12 months earlier.
She was bailed pending further inquiries but immediately suspended by the school as the investigation continued and eventually charged earlier this month.
Although sixth form pupils are above the age of consent, under the The Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is against the law to have a sexual encounter with someone under 18 where a relationship of trust is involved.
Teachers who are found guilty of sexual relations with students risk jail or having their name added to the sex offenders’ register.
McIntyre was bailed to return to South Sefton Magistrates Court on September 22 where the case will be sent to Liverpool Crown Court.
Outside court she said: “I have entered a plea of not guilty, I cannot discuss the case any further.”
Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, which was established in 1610, has 620 students, aged 11 to 18, with 150 of them in the sixth form.
David Cook, the school’s headmaster, said: “As this is now a matter for the courts, the school cannot comment further. The school will continue to co-operate fully with the appropriate agencies, as our first priority remains the safeguarding of all our students.”
[Based on a report by The Daily Telegraph.]
If I were footing the bill for a $4,476 high school semester I would certainly wish my son to negotiate for a bit more than a handjob.
What a “cool” dad you are…..