Former teacher jailed for sexually abusing two students in Surrey
Paul Clifton assigned them pet names to ensure no one found out about their ‘secret’
A former teacher has been jailed after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two students in his care.
Paul Clifton, 55, of Sidcup, was convicted of the following offences:
- Sexual communications with a child
- Sexual activity with a child involving touching
- Four counts of sexual activity with a child involving penetration
- Causing and inciting sexual activity with a child
- Two counts of abuse of position of trust – causing or inciting sexual activity with a child
He was charged after a woman came forward via an online report in 2019.
As the investigation progressed, another victim was identified.
One victim kept detailed accounts of their interactions in her journal, including the date of their first kiss and the first time they had sex. These encounters continued both on and off school premises over the course of a year.
During interviews Clifton denied any sexual contact with either victims.
Clifton pleaded guilty to all charges at Guildford Crown Court on 7 April. On Friday 20 June at Croydon Crown Court he was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.
He will be subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from almost all contact with any female child under 18, and from undertaking any paid, voluntary or recreational activity that is likely to bring him into supervisory contact with any female child under 18. He will also be subject to notification requirements and has been placed on the Children’s Barred List, prohibiting him from working with children again.