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In 21st century UK a judge actually said this about a child sex victim

A 44-year-old teacher who had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old pupil was spared jail today after a judge deemed he had been "groomed" by the girl.

Stuart Kerner, a religious studies teacher at Bexleyheath Academy in south-east London, was handed an 18-month suspended sentence by Judge Joanna Greenberg QC.

When passing the sentence at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Greenberg said:

Her friends described her, accurately in my view, as stalking you.

If grooming is the right word to use, it was she who groomed you, (and) you gave in to temptation.

  • Judge Joanna Greenberg QC

Kerner, from Aylesford, had sex with the girl at school and at his home but was said to be in an “emotionally fragile” state after his wife had miscarried their second child.

Judge Greenberg said she believed the victim was “intelligent and manipulative” and “showed no compunction” about lying when it suited her.

This did not excuse his behaviour, she said, but it did help explain why someone with an “exemplary” character would commit such offences.

Kerner was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

He was cleared of four counts of the same offence, and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

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