Bad teacher: Allison Leigh Chilton, a special education teacher from South Carolina, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct involving her 12-year-old student

A middle school teacher from South Carolina has been charged with carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a 12-year-old student, which came to light after the child's father discovered suggestive text message exchanges between the two.

Allison Leigh Chilton, 27, of Manning, was arrested last Tuesday after the victim's father contacted the authorities, saying he believed the teacher was having a tryst with his underage daughter.

Chilton was initially put on leave from her job as a special education teacher and basketball coach at Oakbrook Middle School in Ladson, outside Charleston. On Thursday, she was fired.

She is accused of kissing, fondling and sending sexually charged text messages to the girl over the course of five months last year.

The victim's father told police the teacher began seeing his daughter while she was in seventh grade. She is now an eighth-grader at the Ladson school.

Chilton, 27, had taught English and math and worked as a basketball coach at Oakbrook Middle School in Ladson, South Carolina (pictured)

Chilton has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Dorchester District Two spokeswoman Pat Raynor says Chilton had worked for the district since 2013.

According to a report filed on January 2 with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, the girl's father found text messages from Chilton on his daughter's phone, reported The Post and Courier.

One text read, 'I want to be your wife'; another message stated, 'I just want to hold you.'

An incident report alleged that the 12-year-old would spend time alone with Chilton in the classroom during recess, ostensibly to get help with her homework.

Revelations: The victim's father told police the teacher (left and right) began seeing his daughter while she was in seventh grade. She is accused of kissing, fondling and sending sexual text messages to the girl over the course of five months

When interviewed by investigators, the victim said Chilton kissed her and fondled her breast during their alleged affair, reported ABC News 4, and that the pair exchanged text messages about their relationship, which lasted from August to December 2017.

Affidavits show that Chilton reportedly admitted to kissing the girl when questioned.

Chilton is currently out on $30,000 bail. In additional to the criminal prosecution, the 27-year-old could have her teaching certificate suspended.