Married teacher jailed over teenage sex charges

A married teacher who had sexual relationships with three teenage girls was jailed today for nearly seven years, court officials said.

Drama teacher Karl Babiczuk-Brown, 29, admitted a relationship with a 15-year-old girl while he was working at Havelock Academy, in Grimsby.

He denied affairs with another 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl he met through a theatre group but was found guilty of a range of offences relating to them by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court.

Sentencing today the judge, Recorder Euan Duff, jailed Babiczuk-Brown for a total of six years and six months, court sources said.

At a previous hearing the jury was told the affair Babiczuk-Brown admitted took place over a four month period last year and came to light after a trip to an arts festival. The two other girls came forward after this affair came to light.

Prosecutors said the 14-year-old girl became involved with the teacher after joining his theatre group and they exchanged text and computer messages.

They began to have consensual sexual contact in 2005, the court heard.

He began an affair with another 15-year-old in 2007. The jury was told he joked to the girl that she and her friend could be his "personal slaves".

All of the girls consented to sexual activity, the court heard. Babiczuk-Brown was with his wife throughout the period in question, although they were only married for part of it.

He told the jury the two girls were not telling the truth.

Babiczuk-Brown admitted nine charges relating to one 15-year-old.

At a hearing in June, after deliberating for about two hours, the jury found him guilty of a further eight offences relating to the other two girls. These involve charges of meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

He had already been sacked from his teaching post by the time his case reached court.

Sergeant Jason Nutting, of Humberside Police, said the force welcomed Babiczuk-Brown's sentence.

He said in a statement: "Brown is a very intelligent man who tried to manipulate everyone he came into contact with to continue his illicit and unlawful affairs - he manipulated the victims, his work colleagues and even attempted to manipulate the officers and course of the investigation for his benefit.

"The offences involving these two juvenile victims were despicable enough, but to engage in a sexual relationship with a pupil at the school where he was a teacher is a truly abhorrent crime, and shows how Brown felt he could carry on these acts without detection.

"He wilfully betrayed the position of trust that he held, and the accepted trust placed in him by parents when taking their children to school and leaving them in someone else's care - they rightly expect their children to be safe whilst in the care of a teacher, but this was clearly not an issue for him.

"His offending and total lack of morality and ethics brings a shadow over the persons working within the teaching profession which is unwanted and generally unwarranted.

"The courage displayed by these victims and witnesses, to testify in this matter against this dangerous sexual predator, is to be commended, and on behalf of Humberside Police I would like to thank them all for their strength of character in this case.

"I also hope this sends a message to victims and offenders alike that Humberside Police will deal with any such allegations positively, professionally, and will strive to bring offenders to justice.

On behalf of the team involved in investigating this matter, I would also like to thank (principal) Mr (Nicholas) O'Sullivan and Havelock Academy for their full co-operation and assistance throughout this investigation."