Gay teacher
jailed for relationship with student

A gay British teacher who had a relationship with one of his students was given what some children's charities are calling a lenient prison term yesterday. David LeBrocq was sentenced to a year in prison after a six-month sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.

The pair was caught having sex in LeBrocq's apartment, but the teenager was given permission to engage in the relationship by his mother, according to The Times of London.

"It does not matter if it was consensual: The point is that when you are a teacher you are in a position of authority over a pupil and you do not have sexual relationships with them," said Michele Elliott, the director of the children's charity Kidscape. "Given that he could be out in six months, it seems to me that he has got off very lightly."

The student, Karl Donaldson, now 19, revealed his identity to the press and in court.

"I have not been in touch with him since we broke up and just want to forget about what happened and get on with the next chapter in my life," he told The Times. (The Advocate)