Cowplain School teacher 'in love' with pupil jailed for kissing and groping teenager

‘Manipulative and predatory’ art teacher Simon Shaw’s actions remained hidden until the ‘haunted’ former Cowplain School pupil bravely came forward.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard the victim went to police in 2017– which time she was an adult – after Shaw was jailed for preying on another young pupil.

Shaw, 46, was ‘in love’ with the girl who he kissed on two occasions, and groped another two times, the court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Fairley told how Shaw ‘pulled her in for a hug and kiss’ and said ‘he loved her’ and he would ‘miss her more than the others’ as he was leaving.

Recorder Alexia Power, who jailed Shaw for 30 months, said the teacher added: ‘This isn’t the end.’

Shaw joined another school but saw the victim again sometime later when he visited former colleagues, taking her back to his car ‘to see a puppy he had brought to school with him’.

Kissing her open-mouthed in the car and touching over her clothes, he said: ‘You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to do that.’

On the final occasion he stood behind the girl, touching her chest under her clothes and put his hand on her inside leg.

‘We could make love right here and now and nobody would know,’ Shaw said, leaving the victim ‘uncomfortable’.

When questioned by police years later Shaw, who now works in an art gallery, claimed he was ‘simply comforting her’ and she was upset.

Jurors rejected his claims of innocence, convicting him of four charges of sexual activity with a child.

In a victim statement, the woman said: ‘The grooming and assault have damaged my ability to trust, all meaningful relationships and respect for myself.

‘Sometimes even having a man near makes me feel uncomfortable.

She added: ‘Sometimes I feel so vulnerable and nervous that I can’t leave the house.’

The woman has since been diagnosed with depression. She said: ‘I suffer from nightmares and broken sleep thinking about how this is affecting the people I love and the guilt my parents must feel.’

She added: ‘I know I must not allow this to ruin my life, I was a child and should not have been compromised and manipulated by someone who should’ve been looking after me.

‘It was wrong, he ruined my trust in teachers and any figure of authority. This was not my fault.

‘I live in fear that Mr Shaw as a teacher is exploiting another girl.’

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Berenice Mulvanny, for Shaw, said he rebuilt his life in the years since the victim went to police, and he now has an ‘age-appropriate’ partner with whom he is trying for a child.

She said probation found him ‘predatory and manipulative’ but said Shaw truly ‘came across as pathetic and inadequate’.

She added: ‘It's clear even now that (he) is an emotionally sad person’.

Ms Mulvanny said it was ‘fairly low-level sexual activity’ and at the time of the crimes he was an isolated and lonely figure.

In a letter to the judge Shaw, who denied his crimes forcing a trial, said: ‘I wish to express how deeply sorry I am for all of the distress and upset I have caused.’

He added: ‘I hate the person I used to be... I’m able to see how wrong my actions are and I now have to live with the constant regret.’

Recorder Power said Shaw sent messages to the victim making clear he was ‘in love with her but could not take the relationship further’.

He told her the age gap was the same between him and his parents, and sent her messages on Valentine’s Day and birthdays, the judge added.

Shaw must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

‘These sentences are so serious that they pass the custody threshold so only a custodial sentence can be justified,’ the judge said.

Recorder Power said he did not present a significant risk to the public. He is no longer teaching.

Get support

:: Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (Parcs) provides information and emotional support for anyone aged 18 or over. The women’s helpline is (023) 9266 9511 and the men’s helpline is (023) 9266 9516. Lines are open Monday 1pm until 3pm, Wednesday and Friday 7pm until 10pm. There is an answer machine outside of these hours.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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