Former drama coach Caroline French, 38, originally denied any
knowledge of the relationship but was found guilty by a jury at
Preston crown Court, last month.
They ruled she'd engaged in three acts of indecent assault and one
count of indecency with a child.
As reported on DIVA, French was originally charged with
committing the offences between September 2002 and April 2004, but
the dates were amended as the trial progressed.
The court heard how French exchanged rings with the girl and
even asked her to refer to her at school as 'Danny', a pretend
boyfriend, to create a ruse.
The girl, who cannot be named, even moved into French's home -
although the shamed teacher insisted she was just a lodger.
Sentencing her, Judge Baker told the defendant: "You have lost
your good character. You have lost your chosen career and, sadly
for you, you have lost the prospects that that career may have led
to," The Telegraph report.
He continued: "In my view, you have shown yourself to be not
only a good teacher and well-respected on one hand, but on the
other hand a manipulative, selfish and, when it suits you, a
vindictive woman.
"You chose to plead not guilty and that is your right but, by
accusing almost all the Crown's witnesses of lying, you have shown
you have no remorse for what you have done.
"Your career now lies in ruin and your life is ruined as well.
You will have a long and difficult struggle to rehabilitate
yourself in paid employment."
