Amir Makda, 32, would meet the girl after school, take her for rides in his car and sent her sexual messages over the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, where he first contacted her
A sick teacher who “subtly groomed” a 15-year-old student and suggested they should run away to Dubai together has been jailed. Amir Makda, who taught at Shuttleworth College in Burnley, kissed the girl and touched her sexually on one occasion.
The 32-year-old would also meet her after school, take her for rides in his car and sent her sexual messages. The teacher first made contact with the student on X, formerly Twitter.
The exchange of messages developed into sexualised chat and they began meeting outside of school. The sexual contact did not go any further than the kiss as Makda accepted the teenager’s boundaries, Preston Crown Court heard.
Prosecuting Francis McEntee said there were elements of “subtle grooming” in the case. Makda had mentioned the pair marrying in the future and moving to Dubai. When the school’s head teacher asked Makda about the relationship, he said they were just friends and that he had told her they could not have a relationship until two years after she had left school.
Mr McEntee told the court that the head had said this showed Makda had a “fundamental failure” in understanding his behaviour, the Lancashire Telegraph reported. The relationship was ended by the victim because her friends did not approve and she feared losing her friendships with them.
On the first day of trial, Makda pleaded guilty to an alternative count of engaging in sexual activity with a child, having already pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communications.
Mitigating Alexander Bennie said Makda regretted his actions and had squandered his career as a teacher. Makda was deemed at low risk of further offending in a pre-sentence report.
Judge Andrew Jeffries said Makda made a “catalogue of mistakes” in the build-up to the sexual activity offence and accepted Mr McEntee’s submission regarding grooming. The judge said it was a “gross breach of trust as a teacher”.
Makda was jailed for 15 months and an indefinite restraining order was imposed between him and the victim. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.
Ruth England, headteacher of Shuttleworth College, said: “We are aware of a recent court case involving a former staff member who has been convicted of a sexual offence and can confirm they no longer work for us.”
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