A teacher who taught me has gone to prison for child abuse

[GreatPotato]

He's in his 70s now and he taught me more than 30 years ago.

He had a "relationship" with a pupil, which is the case brought against him now. The shocking thing is we all knew. It was common knowledge and made her something of a celebrity. Can it really have been so "OK" at the time?. We children thought it made her seem very grown up, but surely adults would have been appalled by it even then?

What's really shocking is a friend who went to a different local secondary school reckons he did the same thing there and it was generally known that was why he left. So "the authorities" knew and just moved him on to another school.

@Alwaystired99

When I was 17 I was infatuated with one of my teachers. He was 20 years older and head of department. He knew how I felt and must have got a kick out of it as he'd take me out (candle lit dinner ffs), call me (before mobiles), give me lifts, even take me to the pub. Nothing every really happened other than a few kisses (when I was 18!!!) but I thought I wanted it to and his behaviour confused me. Other pupils and even staff would make remarks about our relationship but he carried on. I wouldn't be surprised if he did it to others and actually did more. It took me over a decade to realise he shouldn't have behaved the way he did but at the time I loved the attention and couldn't see the power imbalance. He moved hundreds of miles away a few years later and even got another promotion as well as working for an exam board. I'd like to think it wouldn't happen now and if a teacher behaved like that to my daughter I wouldn't stand for it. My mother was just jealous but that's another story!

If he's still in teaching, you can still report him to the regulator. Men like him should not get away with things like that and you were not at fault.

Can I second the idea of reporting those you know of or at least promising you'll give evidence if the police ever approach you.

I'm a trauma therapist. Yes this used to be ignored by authorities. It didn't make the young girls any less traumatised by the abuse though.

When I was at high school our music teacher had a relationship with a pupil, must be 25years ago. We didn't think anything of it. In 6th form, I dated a teacher - he was unaware I was a pupil and dumped me when he found out though. Other staff found out about both and nothing was done. The music teacher and pupil are still together and have kids. He must be 20years older than her.

Really sorry this happened to you. Nowadays this would be considered grooming.

a teacher at my old secondary school was recently convicted of similar offences.....His preference was young boys....taught woodwork (boys only subject in the 80's)and pe to the boys

One of our teachers at school would have boys from school round to his house on an evening. I think he only did it once they'd left school, but it was as soon as they left school. My friend started going, it started with a "party" for finishing exams. He would give them alcohol and food. My friend wasn't supposed to tell anyone but we knew, and we just thought it was funny and teased him about dating a teacher. He said they were just friends but it seems unlikely. He was still teaching as far as I knew, and I was going to report him but found out he's recently passed away. We just didn't realise it for what it was back then. Although, this was 2002 so not that long ago really. Our head of year was also married to a former pupil.

It was surprisingly common. We had a teacher who must have been 50s at least who had a relationship with a 16 year old. She ended up marrying him once she had left but I believe it didn't last.

Also one of the teachers was known to get some of the 15/16 yo girls into his office occasionally / he was sleazy as fuck.

This was mid 80s