A TEACHER who “seduced” a teenage schoolgirl and engaged in sexual activity with her on a Dorset beach has been jailed for 40 months.

Former Sturminster Newton High School teacher Joseph Davidson, aged 33, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court after admitting three offences of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16.

Prosecutor Nicholas Cotter told the court that Davidson was head of geography and his victim was a pupil at the school.

He said that the pair struck up email contact and Mr Cotter said the emails “had an adult tone to them”.

Then on one occasion, the defendant picked the victim up and drove her to Studland Beach.

Mr Cotter said that when they were there Davidson asked the girl to hold a towel for him while he got changed from his trousers into shorts.

They later laid down on the towel and sexually activity took place.

Mr Cotter said: “She did not know how to respond to the affections of this defendant.”

He added that further sexual contact had occurred in the defendant’s car on the way home.

Mr Cotter said when the girl returned home she made an immediate complaint to a friend and the police were eventually contacted.

When interviewed Davidson, of Bere Alston, Yelverton, Devon, denied there had been any sexual contact between them but admitted sending inappropriate messages, which he said was a result of him drinking too much.

In a victim impact statement, the girl said the incident had left her “scared, embarrassed, ashamed and intimidated” and she had been bullied at school as a result.

Narita Bahra, mitigating, described the incident as “one blip in an otherwise exemplary career”.

She said that Davidson had lost his “established professional career” as a result of his offending and was full of remorse.

Miss Bahra said: “He recognises the potential harm he may have caused the victim.”

Judge Peter Johnson sentenced Davidson to 40 months in prison and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16, until further notice.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Judge Johnson told the defendant: “I accept what is said about you in terms of your character up to when you seduced a pupil from your school.

“It must have been clear to you that she was wholly inexperienced in these matters.”

The judge added: “No doubt she was flattered when you turned your attentions on her and no doubt she had little idea about how to react when matters became physical.

“Your actions will have a long lasting impact upon her.

“I doubt that she will ever forget what you did.”

Dorset Police refused to release a custody image of Davidson for what it described as "victim safeguarding reasons".

Jason Davis, headteacher of Sturminster Newton High School said: “Mr Joseph Davidson, a former teacher, was suspended from his position as soon as the allegations against him came to our attention. 

"We, along with Dorset County Council, have fully co-operated with Dorset Police throughout their investigation and have provided support to those affected. 

"Joseph Davidson abused his position of trust as a teacher. We are pleased with the outcome of the court’s proceedings.

"We would like to take this opportunity to commend the young person involved for having the courage to come forward as they did."