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A teacher has been branded a "sexual predator" and jailed for Snapchat sex chats with a child who he told: "I'm not a paedo but don't tell anyone or I'll get locked up".

Andrew Crozier was a respected member of staff at a Tyneside school but today his career is over and his reputation is in tatters.

A court heard the 27-year-old groomed and engaged in criminally inappropriate discussions with a victim under 16 during a "week of madness".

In one message he said: "Before I get some sort of court case, I'm off to sleep."

When the teen's family found out what he had been up to, court is exactly where he ended up.

Now Crozier, of Meadow Road, Monkseaton, North Tyneside, has been jailed in tears at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling said: "The prosecution say he knew what he was doing was wrong and he was encouraging her to keep it secret from her family."

Snapchat messages disappear unless the sender or receiver actively saves them and, in one message, Crozier told the girl: "Please don't save the messages or I will get f***** if anything happens."

He went on to say: "Please keep it quiet so people don't think I'm a paedo haha," adding "beautiful lass like you and a lad like me, they will think all sorts".

In another message, he said: "I can't be leading you on, I'm not a paedo, you know I love you to bits but don't tell anyone or I will get locked up so shhh, I mean shhh."

Miss Dowling said at one stage in the messages, there was a suggestion, if she was older, they could get married.

Crozier made reference to a sexual act and said "Quick s***, move on, no probs".

He added: "Offering sex and all sorts, I'm getting myself in a bad situation here, before I get some kind of court case against me, I'm off to sleep."

In another message he told her: "Keep it hush please or I will die."

The victim's mother said in a statement read to the court that her behaviour had changed for the worse.

She said she was "furious" with Crozier and that her daughter now blames herself for him getting arrested and charged.

The mum said she is concerned for her daughter's mental health.

Recorder Carl Gumsley jailed Crozier for ten months and imposed a sexual harm prevention order and restraining order, both for five years, and told him he must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

The judge said the messages had progressed from being on an inappropriate friendly basis to Crozier "being a sexual predator".

He added: "The breach of trust is considerable. You were twice her age and you were a teacher.

"I take into account you have lost a considerable amount. You have lost your career, your reputation and the respect you clearly had, from reading the references, within the community."

Recorder Gumsley added: "(The girl) is a child and is not responsible for what happened in any way whatsoever.

"This matter is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified."

Mark Harrison, defending, said he had made a "grave series of misjudgements that led to him losing his good name".

Mr Harrison said Crozier resigned from his job and has been suspended from working as a teacher and accepts his expulsion from that profession.

He added: "The defendant can do no more than impress on the court his genuine regret and remorse.

"He understands the profession he has worked so hard to achieve is taken from him and he will be largely unemployable for the foreseeable future.

"The pressure he has created on those close to him is weighing heavily on him.

"He is struggling to find an explanation about why he behaved in this way.

"He was due to be married this year. His fiance doesn't know if the relationship will endure, she's furious with him but is there, providing support.

"She takes the view Mr Crozier's conduct, other that in this week of madness, has been worth her endurance.



"He is reluctant to blame stress but it seems that at the time he was undergoing acute stress but that doesn't excuse his conduct, of course it doesn't."

Recorder Gumsley said: "He had a partner and family and I can't see how stress can lead to grooming a child."