Gay teacher jailed for affair with male pupil

David Le Brocq's promising career lies in tatters as he began his prison sentence.

The 30-year-old drama teacher had enjoyed a prolonged relationship with Karl Donaldson, with Karl's mother's knowledge but the schoolmaster denied it when in court.

After jurors failed to reach a verdict at trial in October 2006, a fresh jury of four men and eight women convicted him at a retrial in May this year.

A court had heard how Karl had sparked the relationship by passing the teacher his mobile phone number.

Le Brocq later sent him messages and called while drunk at a party to tell the 15-year-old he loved him.

The affair became physical but despite Karl allegedly pressing his adult companion, Le Brocq would not engage in full sex until his partner reached the age of 16.

The jury heard that Karl's 16th birthday sparked a passionate, physical phase to the relationship, which would ultimately end in August 2004, when it emerged Le Brocq had become a father by a colleague.

During the six-month fling, Le Brocq had entertained his young lover at his flat in Christchurch, Dorset, miles from Thamesbridge College, where they had met, in Reading, Berks.

His affair with the pupil only came to light when the boy's sister mentioned it to a teacher.

During her evidence, Karl's younger sister told the court Le Brocq visited the family home regularly as her brother's boyfriend.

Despite knowing about it, Karl's mother Donna had never objected.

The boy also never made any complaint.

"He loved David Le Brocq and his mother wanted him to be happy," prosecutor Alan Blake had told the jury during the trial at Reading Crown Court, Berks.

He told the jury: "The evidence is there was a mutual infatuation between them.

"David Le Brocq exercised some restraint in not allowing matters to progress too far physically before the boy's 16th birthday.

"The Crown says he wasn't able to give sufficient restraint and he sorely hoped no-one would find out."

Le Brocq became deputy headteacher at Bovington Middle School in Wareham, Dorset, from where he was suspended following his arrest in September 2005.

Paul Raudnitz, defending at the sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court, told the judge: "There is no harm alleged in this case.

"In fact the mother was aware of the relationship from a very early stage. She had approved of the relationship and had indeed encouraged it.

"She maintained the position that Mr Le Brocq was a positive influence on her son."

He described Le Brocq as "an astonishingly good teacher" who was "held in very significant esteem by all those who had come into contact with him."

The defendant had been nominated for the National Teacher of the Year award after three months in the profession, he said, by the pupils, teachers and parents at his school.

"Teaching was almost a religion. It was his life," he added.

Judge Anthony King told the defendant: "I am wholly satisfied that this is not one of those cases where an adult has acted in a predatory, grooming way towards a young person.

"It is perfectly apparent that the boy was already a person who was attracted to you, was happy to be so attracted.

"Indeed, much that occured was at his instigation."

However, he added: "Sadly, though, this case is a classic example of a substantial and serious breach of trust."

He jailed Le Brocq, now of Barnsland, West End, Hants., to four months jail for the first count of engaging in sexual activity while in a position of trust and 12 months concurrently for the remaining four.

Le Brocq was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

The defendant looked resigned to his fate as he was led from the dock to the cells.

Following the verdict, Karl, now aged 19 years, bravely decided to waive his anonymity to talk about what had happened to him.

He said: "I am glad it is now all over and I do not have to worry about anything now.

"I have not been in touch with him [Le Brocq] since we broke up and just want to forget about what happened and get on with the next chapter in my life."

Donna added: "We did not choose to go through any of this.

"My son just fell in love with the wrong person and it was his first relationship, but he is much stronger for it and has moved on."