A GUITAR tutor who had a sexual relationship with a “vulnerable” 14-year-old girl has been jailed for 30 months.
Nicholas Watson continued to abuse Stacey Fernandes for about two years, despite being warned off by her suspicious stepfather.
Mrs Fernandes (now 30) waived her right to anonymity to speak out about the crime (see story online tomorrow) as Watson was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday.
Watson (46), of Rowan Avenue, Spalding, admitted two charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 during 1996 and 1997. He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
Grace Hale, prosecuting, said the relationship had been “entirely consensual” but Mrs Fernandes subsequently suffered a number of problems including self-harming.
Catarina Sjolin, defending, said Watson suffers from both Asperger’s Syndrome and depression. She said: “He does not shy away from the fact that this should never have happened. He is extremely ashamed of the relationship he was in.
“Despite the depression he was suffering at the time, he should have acted as the adult that he is and not engaged in this relationship. He knew it was wrong.”
Miss Sjolin said Watson has shown remorse and made early admissions to the offences when he was seen by police.
Giving the sentence, Judge Michael Heath told Watson: “This went on for a significant period of time. This is a very grave breach of trust. This was a very vulnerable girl. You knew what you were doing was wrong.”