Wendover teacher jailed for having sex with 15-year-old pupil
Kandice Barber was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child
Last updated 5th Mar 2021
The Wendover teacher was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court this morning.
Cover teacher Kandice Barber, 35 years old, has been sentenced to 6 years and 2 months after being found guilty of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Barber added herself to the15-year-old student's Snapchat account in September 2018, and the court was told that within a week the messages became sexual.
It was over Snapchat that she sent the topless images of herself, as well as a "live video" of her masturbating.
Barber had told the boy to delete the conversation and that she would "bring him down with her" if the relationship were discovered.
Judge Dhaliwali said it makes no difference that Barber is female and the victim is male, in court she told Barber:
"You also sent images, including a topless image of yourself, and a live video in which you were masturbating. All of these acts are tantamount to you grooming him and pulling him in, and with significant planning on your part.'
"There is no doubt in my mind that you acted in gross breach of trust. You took advantage of a child in your care and groomed him for your own sexual gratification.
"You remained determined to silence him in whatever way you could.
"You already had authority over him by the nature of your position, and to use threats to bring him down so he would comply with your demands to remain quiet, which is what I find that you did, is in my view beyond despicable.''
Barber also told the pupil she was pregnant and unsure if it was his or her husbands, which the Judge said was another example of her trying to manipulate and control him.
An NSPCC spokesperson said:
“As a teacher, Barber would have been well aware of the vulnerability of young people, and it was her duty to safeguard those in her care. But, instead, she exploited her position of trust to groom and abuse this teenage boy for her own sexual gratification.
“Speaking out about child sexual abuse can be extremely challenging for victims and it’s important the victim in this case receives all the support he needs to help him come to terms with what has happened.
“We all have a responsibility for the welfare of children, if have you concerns about a child please call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.”
Barber was also handed a 16-month prison sentence for causing a child under 16 to watch sexual activity by a person in breach of trust and a further 10-month sentence for sexual communication, both to be served concurrently with her main sentence.