Pupil said: 'I felt as though I couldn't say no'

A HEXHAM teacher began a sexual relationship with a teenager when she was still a student at his school - and then continued it for months after she left for university.

- By SAM VOLPE Health reporter [e-mail]

The female student - known only as Pupil A - described how the actions of former Queen Elizabeth High School teacher Andrew Brook, 61, had left her feeling “as though I couldn’t say no to him” because of his position.

Mr Brook has now been banned from teaching for life. He had worked at the school for more than two decades, having started there in 1995.

But he began a sexual relationship with the teenager and over the course of a year and a half, he sent personal messages to her, gave her a Christmas present and confessed feelings for her.

He then kissed her, had sex with her and told her he loved her. He continued the relationship when the teenager went on to uni versity.

A Teaching Regulation Agency hearing found that Mr Brook had “sought to exploit his position of trust”. The hearing also heard heartbreaking evidence from the pupil.

In a written statement she said: “Looking back at the relationship, I believe there was a lot of manipulation by Mr Brook. He was older and in a position of authority.