Three years for Halifax teacher who let teens have sex in his car

William Drury, 48, of Chester Road, Halifax, was told he had used his position to exploit the children in his care as he was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today.

Drury was found guilty of a series of sex offences after a trial in September.

The jury heard he told a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl they looked “beautiful” as they had sex in his car as he drove them home.

The married father-of-two told the court he came to look upon the boy as a friend and would discuss personal and sexual matters with the teenager.

The court heard the teacher was “infatuated” with the girl and told her he loved her on several occasions.

He was found to have touched and kissed the girl several times and had indecent photographs of three pupils on his computer.

Sentencing Drury today, Judge James Spencer QC told him: “You became a teacher, you showed some talent at it but, from start to finish, you used it for your own purposes so you could exploit the children in your care.”

He continued: “You did not maintain the boundaries which you should have done. You eroded those boundaries, you took advantage of their respect for you and what you did was you assaulted the girl, you were familiar with other girls and you encouraged them to behave in a way they weren’t ready for.

“It’s that breach of trust that makes your case so serious.”

Judge Spencer said a prison sentence was inevitable despite Drury’s previous good character.

“There has to be a prison sentence so you know and others know that this kind of irresponsibility and abuse of children will not be tolerated,” he said.

Drury was found guilty of two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust; two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust; three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust; and six counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

He was cleared of one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

The trial heard Drury kissed the girl and put his hand up her top to feel her breasts, kissed her neck and ears, and, on one occasion, ran his hand up the back of her thigh and tried to put his hand inside her pants.

He also took photographs of the girl wearing a top without a bra, including one close-up of her breast area.

Drury was arrested after pupils saw the pictures on his computer.

Police found photographs of a number of other female students, including a picture of a girl sunbathing in her bikini, which had been cropped to begin at her vaginal area, and some of a 15-year-old girl in her underwear.

The court heard that “vulnerable” teenage girls would go to Drury to tell him their problems. He described one as his “mistress”.

After his arrest, the beginning of an erotic short story describing a physical relationship between a teacher and a pupil was found on his computer.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Kirsty Walsh, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “As a teacher, Drury had a responsibility for the welfare and safety of the young people in his care. Instead, he chose to abuse his position of trust for his own sexual gratification.

“We hope the fact he has now been brought to justice will go some way towards helping his victims and their families to deal with the trauma his selfish actions have caused them.”

Det Sgt Walsh was commended by the judge for her work in this case.

Drury was also handed a sexual offences prevention order.