THE headteacher of a Hampshire school where a man had sex with an underage teenager six times has said she is "appalled".

Sam Dickety was jailed for sleeping with the 15-year-old girl at Henry Beaufort in Winchester.

The 23-year-old was working as a learning support assistant and the two had sex in an area only teachers could access, known as 'The Harbour'.

Now Sue Hearle, headteacher, has said the safety and wellbeing of students is a priority.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Henry Beaufort School

"I am appalled at this individual’s dreadful breach of a position of trust," she said.

"When the allegations against Mr Dickety were first brought to my attention, I took immediate action in suspending him from employment at this school as a learning support assistant.

"He was subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct. The safety and wellbeing of our students is an absolute priority for the school.

"Our staff are fully aware of the safeguarding protocol and the need for vigilance. Pupils are aware of who they can talk to if they think they or one of their peers may be vulnerable, whether that is within school or outside of school."

Last Thursday Dickety was jailed for fours years as his girlfriend, pregnant with his child, wept in the public gallery at Winchester Crown Court.

Dickety, of Tadburn Road, Romsey, first slept with the schoolgirl after she pursued him with notes and messages.

He gave her his phone number and email address. In a message he said he wished she wasn't 15.

They slept together over several months on school property, which continued until Dickety's birthday, when the girl asked another pupil to deliver a birthday card to him.

It was intercepted by her mother, who thought it was provocative and reported it to the school.

The card said: “I love you so much and you mean everything to me, you are my handsome Sam. Ps, you’ll get your present on Thursday haha.”

After a warning from the school Dickety and the girl continued to have sex for another two months.

Sentencing, Judge Susan Evans QC said it was a significant and serious abuse of trust and Dickety would have been aware of the girl’s vulnerability - she had previously been sexually assaulted.

“You took advantage of your 15-year-old victim, you groomed her,” the judge said.

“The location is an aggravating factor because it was on school property and most seriously you failed to respond to the warning you were given.”

He was jailed for four years and will be released on licence after two years.

Dickety will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life and disqualified from working with children and vulnerable people.