TEACHER Mark Medlicott has been jailed for 16 months for having an affair with a pupil.

Swindon Crown Court heard on Friday how Medlicott, who taught at Wootton Bassett School, had been warned off by the youngster's father after a friend got wind of the couple's friendship.

But he and the girl carried on seeing each other. On two weekends in January they went to his home in Bristol and ended up having sex.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, told the court that 26-year-old Medlicott had been hired on a temporary basis at the school.

"In his police interview he admitted that he was drawn to her," Mr Thomas told the court.

He said at the end of the Christmas term she left her mobile phone number among papers where she knew he would find it.

After a series of text messages and phone calls they started meeting out of school and he visited her home over the Christmas holiday period when her family were away.

Mr Thomas said "She was overheard talking to him by her best friend. That friend told her mum who contacted the girl's parents.

"After that, the girl's father contacted him telling him to leave her alone. He said he would but did nothing of the sort."

They met twice in January, on the first weekend they had gone to Medlicott's home in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, and ended up in his bedroom, stopping short of having full sex.

A week later the girl's dad dropped her off outside a friend's house but Medlicott picked her up and they drove to Bristol.

After spending the day together in the city they again ended up in his bedroom and had sexual intercourse.

Then on Valentine's Day the friend's mum overheard her talking to him on the phone and contacted her parents.

They went to the school the following day to make a formal complaint and Medlicott sent a text to the father asking him not to take the matter further.

The police were contacted after half term and when the girl was questioned she told police about what had taken place.

Medlicott, of The Culvert, Bradley Stoke, admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child. Fiona Eldor, defending, said "Mr Medlicott understands the court must view this as a gross breach of trust."

She said that he was full of remorse for what he had done and acknowledged it was his responsibility.

"He has thrown away his career and any chance of working as a teacher again," she said.

Jailing him, Judge Tom Longbotham said: "You were in a position of complete trust and regrettably you abused that trust in the worst sort of way.

"You abused the trust parents place in teachers, that pupils are entitled to place in teachers.

"In this case there is much mitigation, of course, but unfortunately there is another aggravating feature in this case beyond the breach of trust.

"It is this; before Christmas when things were starting to get out of hand her parents found out about it and they tried to assist you and help you, not by reporting the matter."

As well as jailing him for 16 months he also banned him from working with children and said he must register as a sex offender for ten years.

A spokesman for Wootton Bassett School said: "The teacher was suspended from his post as soon as the allegations were made.

"He remains under suspension and a disciplinary investigation will be carried out following the court case to determine his future.

"The local education authority and the school have acted appropriately throughout the investigation and court proceedings."