Paedophile music teacher jailed for more than eleven years

A music teacher who sexually abused teenage girls at the school where he worked has been sentenced to more than 11 years in jail.

Kieran Hope of Keith Avenue, Wickford, was found guilty of seven counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Offences ranged from inappropriate touching to a full blown relationship with a 13-year-old.

The assaults took place between 2014 and 2014 when Hope was working at Sandon School in Chelmsford

The 33-year-old targeted three vulnerable teenagers sometimes within the music department of which he was the head.

He bombarded one of his victims with more than 3,000 text messages in a single month.

Police launched an investigation after one them confided in a friend who encouraged her to come forward.