A FORMER teacher at Kimbolton School has been jailed after admitting sexual relationships with two pupils. Andrew Gunning, 36, from Jessie Road, Bedhampton, Havant, Hampshire, taught music at Kimbolton School between 1999 and 2004, becoming the school s h

A FORMER teacher at Kimbolton School has been jailed after admitting sexual relationships with two pupils.

Andrew Gunning, 36, from Jessie Road, Bedhampton, Havant, Hampshire, taught music at Kimbolton School between 1999 and 2004, becoming the school's head of music.

In 2002, he had sexual relations with two schoolgirls, who cannot be named for legal reasons. At Peterborough Crown Court on Friday, Gunning pleaded guilty to three counts of abusing a position of trust and one of indecent assault.

The first girl said that Gunning initially started taking notice of her when she was 15, and asked about her love life.

Angela Rafferty, prosecuting, said that Gunning had approached the girl at school events and started sending her inappropriate e-mails and texts.

He began to kiss her at school functions. On one occasion she got into his car away from the school grounds.

The court heard that he said: "How about some proper naughtiness?" before kissing her and unbuttoning her clothes and engaging in sexual activities. Gunning stopped when another car appeared.

The second girl was never taught by Gunning, and met him at a school activity, aged 14.

Miss Rafferty said: "She thought the way he looked at her was overly-friendly. He would look at her breasts and then look at her and smile."

In 2002, Gunning met the girl at a pub and walked her home. He then said he wanted to kiss her. Gunning put his hand under her top and engaged in sexual activities with her, saying she "looked really sexy". She asked him to stop and he left.

The incidents were raised with police in 2007 and Gunning was interviewed in May that year.

He confessed to kissing the first girl but, when asked about the second girl, said he "wouldn't touch her with a bargepole".

Claire Matthews, representing Gunning, said the sexual activity with the first girl would not have been a crime if he had not been her teacher.

"He was the older person and the teacher and he acted foolishly and stupidly in offering his affections."

Gunning left Kimbolton School in 2004 and Miss Matthews said the school he worked at after that had been aware of the past accusations and watched him closely but his behaviour had been fine.

"He has made it impossible for him to teach again and I think that it's a tragedy that someone of his skill will not be able to continue teaching because of foolishness," said Miss Matthews.

Gunning was sentenced to 10 months in prison and banned from working with children under 18.