Teacher James Bond sentenced for kissing schoolgirl Published duration 23 September 2011

A teacher caught by a caretaker in an embrace with a schoolgirl has avoided a prison sentence.

James Bond was caught with the girl at Dulverton School in Somerset in a classroom after lessons and admitted he had kissed her on previous occasions.

Taunton Crown Court heard the 49-year-old also sent explicit videos to her and chatted to her on Facebook.

Bond, of Normandy Way, Taunton, was given a community sentence which will see him supervised for three years.

At a previous hearing, he admitted five charges of sexual activity with a child and one of inciting a child to watch a sexual act.

Heavy drinking

The court heard that the school's headmaster had warned him about his conduct with the girl before he was caught and arrested.

The girl later admitted the "relationship" with Bond started when she was a young teenager.

Bond, who has lost his job, blamed depression and heavy drinking.

He was told by Judge Graham Hume Jones that if his behaviour had gone any further he would have been jailed.

"It appears that in the background of your life you have had considerable emotional problems," the judge said.

"You know perfectly well as a teacher you should never try to solve these emotional problems by involving yourself with any pupils.

"Girls of that age are flattered by the attention of teachers and also they are to be protected against themselves.

"I am concerned because I read that there have been complaints about you in the past but you continued to involve this little girl in your emotional problems."

Bond was placed under a supervision order for three years, put on the sex offenders' register for five years and banned from working with young or vulnerable people.