Male maths teacher who was caught having sex with a female pupil when child's mother found him hiding under her bed escapes jail

A mother discovered her daughter was having sex with a teacher after she found him hiding under the teenager's bed, a court has heard.

Married maths teacher Andrew Welsh, 36, was caught when the girl's mother returned home unexpectedly one morning last July, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Her daughter had ruffled hair and smudged lipstick and, when the mother went upstairs, she noticed a pair of man's boots at the side of the bed in the 16-year-old's room, prosecutor Geoff Whelan told the court.

The shocked parent asked the girl: 'What are you doing? Who is here?

'However, as that was said, she looked down and saw movement in the drawer compartment within the girl's single divan bed,' Mr Whelan added.

'She saw movement of material which seemed to match the suit jacket her daughter was holding. The girl replied "Mr Welsh".

'Her mother ordered the defendant to get out from under the bed and recognised him from the school.'

The shocked woman called her husband and the police and Welsh was arrested.

He had begun a relationship with the 'impressionable' girl last summer while she was taking her GCSE exams, the court heard.

The graduate of St Andrews University bombarded the girl with obscene texts, including: 'Have you heard about my maths lesson? We're going to find out if 35 goes into 16.'

Father-of-one Welsh, of Atherton, near Wigan, who is married to a local doctor, admitted six counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

Today, he was given a 14-month jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours of community service.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The court heard the relationship began last May when Welsh took the girl to his home and showed her his artwork, they sat on the couch and began kissing. They met again shortly after and had sex.

The court heard Welsh bombarded the youngster with obscene text messages before having sex with her

Another liaison occurred in his car at a Sainsbury's car park when they had simulated sex.

On July 18 last year, they had full sex for a second time at the girl's home - the next day the mother arrived home early and their secret relationship was uncovered.

The court heard of a series of texts sent to the girl by Welsh.

They included - after meeting at the teacher's home: 'You left your glorious scent on the pillow for days, I loved it.'

Welsh also texted the girl: 'Stop it you minx!','I love it when you dig your nails in,' and, 'You really are talented in bed.'

Welsh told police the girl was aged 16, the sex was consensual and all sexual activity took place after she had left school, and tried to have the charges dismissed.

But the judge ruled at an earlier hearing that the charges should stand as Welsh had been in a position of trust. Welsh then pleaded guilty to the six charges.

Nicola Gatto, defending, told Judge Elliot Knopf: 'As a result of the guilty pleas entered your honour is about to sentence a man who's fallen from grace to a very large degree.

'He's lost his standing in the community, he's lost his good character and he's lost the career he loved.'

Welsh avoided jail after Bolton Crown Court (pictured) heard the offences have ruined his career

Ms Gatto said Welsh, a former assistant head of year, was now selling double glazing.

She added: 'Quite what possessed him to embark on this course of conduct is really unclear.

'He was flattered by the attention that this young woman gave him. It's clear as the relationship developed this man developed a real fondness for the girl.

'The other victim in all of this has been his wife and son. His wife is a GP and she has made the very difficult decision to stand by him.

'He has effectively ruined his own life. It's going to take many years for this man to piece his life back together again, a daily reminder of the huge mistake he has made.'

Passing sentence, Judge Knopf told Welsh: 'You were nearly 20 years older than this girl.

'It is you who has to bear the responsibility for what happened. She was attracted to you, you should have exercised the judgment which you clearly lacked when you decided to embark on this relationship with her.

'Not perhaps a moment of madness, because it went on for a good number of weeks.'

Welsh was also ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs.