SIMON PARSONS DURSLEY TEACHER JAILED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENT IN THORNBURY

In January 2015, a disturbing case emerged involving Simon Parsons, a teacher from Dursley, Gloucestershire, who was sentenced to prison for engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage student from Thornbury. Parsons, aged 52, who had dedicated over three decades of his life to teaching drama at Castle School in Thornbury, was found guilty of multiple counts related to his misconduct.

Parsons admitted to having sexual encounters with his then-17-year-old student, a relationship that spanned over five years. He pleaded guilty in November to five counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. The court proceedings at Bristol Crown Court revealed that Parsons exploited the trust placed in him as an educator, acknowledging that his actions were both 'amoral and inappropriate.'

During the trial, a statement from Parsons' wife was read aloud, describing him as 'not a monster, but a gentle man who made a massive mistake.' Despite this characterization, the court learned that Parsons fathered a child with the girl after she left the school. The relationship, which began when the girl was still a student, continued for several years, and Parsons' wife bore the child resulting from the affair. After the girl ended the relationship in her early twenties, Parsons returned to his family life.

The girl’s family took the step of reporting the incident to the authorities, motivated by concerns for the safety of other students. Prosecutor James Ward explained that the relationship initially appeared to follow a typical pattern, with the sexual encounters being consensual. However, he emphasized that such conduct was illegal because teachers are prohibited from engaging in sexual activities with their students. The girl herself admitted to having had a crush on Parsons and expressed feelings of confusion and self-blame, stating, “I felt grossed out at one point and then I thought ‘Oh well, he fancies me’.”

Parsons' defense attorney, David Scutt, described his client as a 'committed teacher,' but acknowledged that Parsons had breached the trust placed in him. Parsons was arrested in April 2014, several years after the relationship had ended, and he accepted that his conduct was both immoral and inappropriate. He recognized that he exploited a young female pupil and admitted to prioritizing his own needs over those of his family. His career, which had spanned more than 30 years, was effectively ruined by the scandal, leaving Parsons feeling humiliated and remorseful.

The girl’s mother, who chose not to be publicly identified, expressed her anger and disappointment, criticizing the school for failing to protect her daughter. She revealed that she had reported her concerns to the head teacher after discovering her daughter had a child fathered by Parsons. She accused the school of neglecting its duty to safeguard students, stating, “The school hadn’t been the safe haven it should have been,” and lamented that Parsons was allowed to continue teaching for another three years despite her concerns.

Following Parsons' sentencing, the school issued a statement to parents reaffirming its commitment to student safety. Head teacher Peter Smart and chairman of governors Chris White-Horne emphasized that the school was unaware of any inappropriate relationship during the time the girl was a student. They condemned Parsons’ actions, stating, “Abuse of the position of trust between teacher and student is completely unacceptable and we unreservedly condemn Mr. Parsons’ actions.” The incident has cast a shadow over the school’s reputation and raised questions about safeguarding procedures in place at the time.