EDWARD COLLINS STRETFORD TEACHER CAUGHT IN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AT MANCHESTER COLLEGE

In March 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving Edward Collins, a married teacher from Stretford, who was accused of engaging in inappropriate and sexualized behavior with a sixth-form student at Xaverian Sixth-Form College in Rusholme, Manchester. The incident drew significant attention from the local community and the authorities, highlighting the serious breach of trust and professional conduct.

According to court proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, Collins, aged 32 and a father of one, was found to have persistently communicated with the student via Twitter, engaging in a series of explicit and suggestive messages. One particularly troubling message revealed that Collins 'dreamed of spooning' with the girl, a comment that underscored the inappropriate nature of their online exchanges. These messages were part of a broader pattern of misconduct that eventually led to his removal from the college premises by police authorities after the allegations surfaced.

The court heard that Collins was convicted on four counts related to sexual activity with a minor while in a position of trust. His actions included physically touching the girl on her leg and kissing her on the cheek, acts that constituted clear breaches of professional boundaries and trust. One of the charges detailed an incident where Collins secretly touched the girl’s feet with his own under her desk, an act colloquially described as 'playing footsie.' Additionally, the court revealed that Collins had previously engaged in similar misconduct with an earlier pupil in 2007, who reportedly had a 'crush' on him, and was touched on the leg by Collins during that time.

Manchester Crown Court further disclosed that Collins, who resides on Manor Road in Stretford, had resigned from his position as a mathematics teacher, a role that paid him approximately £39,000 annually. The prosecution, led by Michael Maher, described how the most recent victim received around 1,000 tweets from Collins, often at very late hours, with some messages being explicitly inappropriate. Maher explained that Collins indicated in his messages that he was dreaming about being in bed with her and engaging in intimate acts, including jokes about dragging her into a stockroom cupboard for sexual activity. On her birthday, Collins reportedly closed his office door, pulled her into a hug, and kissed her on the cheek, further violating professional boundaries.

The girl also recounted feeling degraded and ashamed, describing herself as feeling like a 'cheap and dirty person.' She revealed that her academic performance suffered as she tried to avoid Collins, and she turned to alcohol as her feelings of guilt and shame intensified during her sixth-form years. The misconduct was uncovered after senior staff overheard a conversation that revealed Collins’s inappropriate behavior. It was also disclosed that Collins had sent emails to an earlier pupil, asking for sex, which further demonstrated his pattern of predatory behavior.

In response to his actions, Collins was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes mandatory attendance at a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program. Additionally, a sexual offences prevention order was issued, explicitly prohibiting him from teaching or working with individuals under the age of 18. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding and the devastating impact of breaches of trust by educators in positions of authority.