29 July 2010 Last updated at 15:41 ET

Teacher guilty of under-age sex in Worcestershire

A sex education teacher has been found guilty of having sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

David Robinson, 41, of Belmont Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, was employed at a school in the county when he met the teenager.

He denied six counts of sexual activity with a child. He was found guilty of five charges, but cleared of the sixth.

Robinson told Hereford Crown Court he did not have sex with the girl until her 16th birthday.

'Very depressive state'

The charges relate to events between November 2006 and May 2007.

Robinson had admitted having a relationship with the teenager, who cannot be named, but told the court they "fell in love".

He said the relationship was "purely platonic" before the girl reached the age of consent, telling jurors he began a friendship with her because she was in "a very depressive state" and he thought he could help.

Robinson said he wanted to bring the girl, now 19, "out of a very dark place" by going for walks with her at weekends and chatting to her about her life.

'Not proud'

He added: "She came over and I cooked her a meal... that's when everything started happening, that's when it started to become a sexual relationship.

"I was 38 at the time and I am not proud of starting a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student but it happened."

Robinson said the girl called an end to the relationship in November 2008 because he was unable to "fully commit" to it and had "issues" with his ex-wife.

During the week-long trial the girl, who cried as the jury returned its verdicts, told the court she had first had sex with Robinson after a party at his home on the evening on 25 November 2006.

The divorced father-of-two taught personal, social and health education (PSHE), which included sex education and science, the court heard.

He was suspended from his job in January 2007 when rumours began to circulate about the nature of his relationship with the girl, and a police investigation was subsequently launched.

Robinson was bailed to appear for sentencing at Hereford Crown Court on 13 September.