A teacher at a performing arts school in Salford has been found guilty of having an 'exploitative' sexual relationship with a child.

Kim Connor, 46, would take the girl on holidays and go shopping together, and was 'trusted' by her parents.

Connor, from Salford, told the girl that if anyone questioned them in public, she should tell people that she was 21.

She also told her that they could not show 'overt signs of affection'.

"She knew full well what she was doing was wrong," prosecutor Darren Preston told Minshull Street Crown Court.

Their relationship later became sexual.

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The girl, now an adult, said she was inspired to report the abuse by the #MeToo movement.

At trial, Connor claimed the relationship only began when the girl was 18.

She denied 12 offences.

A jury found her guilty of three offences of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust; and a further three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust.

The convictions relate to sexual touching.

They also found her not guilty of three offences of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust; and a further three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust.

She will be sentenced next month.

The court heard that the girl, who was said to be 'enthralled' and 'besotted' by Connor, was having 'difficulty coming to terms with her sexuality'.

They started to kiss each other but not in a sexual way at first.

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The relationship later became sexual and 'stopped being just pecks on the lips', Mr Preston said.

She often stayed at Connor's house overnight, and they would go on holiday together and on shopping trips to the Trafford Centre.

Later, their relationship became 'more intense' and Connor made 'sexual advances' to the girl.

Mr Preston said: "They became friendly. They became affectionate. The defendant effectively made sexual advances to her and they indulged in a relationship.

"That was one which was unequal. One which was exploitative."

Later, the girl went to university and became more 'independent'.

Prosecutors said she became 'upset' after finding out that Connor had been undergoing IVF treatment behind her back, and they later split.

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Jurors were told that Connor, of of Blyton Lane, Salford, 'never forced her [the girl] to do anything'.

But prosecutors said it was an 'abusive relationship for several reasons'.