Jeremy Forrest was sentenced to four and a half years for the five offences of sexual activity with a child and one year for the offence of child abduction, to run consecutively.

The 30-year-old teacher, formerly of of Broyleside Cottages, Ringmer, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child having been found guilty of child abduction yesterday.

At Lewes Crown Court today, Judge Michael Lawson told Forrest: "Your behaviour in this period has been motivated by self-interest and has hurt and damaged many people - her family, your family, staff and pupils at the school and respect for teachers everywhere.

"It has damaged you too but that was something you were prepared to risk. You now have to pay that price."

Forrest, wearing a grey suit, white shirt and tie, showed no emotion but nodded to his family as he was taken down to the cells.

Judge Lawson also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo) on Forrest banning him from working or volunteering with children and unsupervised contact with children forever.

Judge Lawson told him: "It was your duty as a teacher to stop her infatuation not to fuel it.

"Your research into what might happen to you if you were caught is proof of the deliberate nature of your behaviour."