A former teacher has been jailed for more than five years after grooming and sexually abusing two teenage students while in a position of trust.
Paul Clifton, 55, of Sidcup, was sentenced at court to five years and seven months in prison after being found guilty of multiple child sexual offences, including:
- Sexual communications with a child
- Sexual activity with a child involving touching
- Four counts of sexual activity with a child involving penetration
- Causing and inciting sexual activity with a child
- Two counts of abuse of position of trust – causing or inciting sexual activity with a child
Clifton will also be subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and has been placed on the Children’s Barred List, banning him from working with children again.
Grooming Spanning More Than a Decade
The court heard how Clifton targeted two vulnerable girls over a ten-year period.
In 2006, Alison (not her real name), then 15, was a pupil at a school in Kent. Clifton belittled her in class before manipulating her into believing they were in love. He demanded photos that became increasingly explicit and sent her messages telling her he missed her.
In 2017, Clifton groomed another pupil, Katherine (not her real name), who was also 15 at the time and studying at a Surrey school. He exploited her struggles with stress and friendships by offering support through creative writing before escalating the relationship into abuse.
Victims Speak Out
In a moving victim impact statement, Alison said:
“Paul Clifton made me feel stupid and unworthy. He created an image that I would never amount to anything without him. What happened to me…is something that can never be undone.”
Katherine said:
“Asking how this impacts my life is like asking someone how they breathe. The age I was when this happened is such a pivotal age. It is when you start finding yourself, when you start carving out who you are. The defendant robbed that from me.”
Police Statement
Investigating officer DC Nicola Deadman described Clifton as a “predator who targeted children,” adding:
“As a teacher, he should have had his students’ safety and best interests at the forefront of his mind. He used the legitimacy of his position to establish trust and then groom the girls he was responsible for safeguarding.
I’d like to pay tribute to the courage of the two victim-survivors, who have shown immense strength of character and bravery in coming forward and reliving these traumatic events to see justice done.”
Safeguarding Concerns
The case has raised further concerns about safeguarding in schools and the long-term damage caused when trusted professionals abuse their positions of power.
Read more from Bexley.
