A former Hornchurch secondary school teacher has been jailed for nine months after admitting to sexually touching a student.

Andrew Charles Embling, 36, from Coxtie Green Road, Brentwood was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, November 30 after pleading guilty to one count of the sexual teaching of a teenage girl on October 22.

The offence took place on January 10, 2017 at a secondary school in Hornchurch.

The court heard how Embling asked the victim to collect some books for him from a cupboard.

She went to the cupboard to look for the books but could not find them.

He then went back to the cupboard with the victim to assist her. While she was in the cupboard the teacher sexually assaulted the pupil.

She immediately told a friend what had happened and then informed a teacher.

Embling was suspended with immediate effect and the police and local authority were informed.

He was arrested on January 13, 2017 and subsequently charged on March 29 this year.

As part of his sentence Embling was issued with a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed in the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

Investigating officer Pc Clare Henson, from the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: “Embling abused the trust this student put in him and saw his opportunity to use his position to betray the victim by sexually touching her.

“The young victim has shown great courage and maturity in coming forward and disclosing what happened, and giving evidence against Embling in court.

“I would also like to praise the school for their response to this incident, their assistance during the investigation and the ongoing support they have provided to the students at the school.”

An NSPCC spokesman added: “This was an awful betrayal of trust, in which Embling used his position to abuse a student for his own gratification.

“His behaviour fell a long way short of expectations and it is right that he now faces the consequences.

“Children and young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 for free, confidential support and advice on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk. Adults with concerns about a child can call the NSPCC helpline on 0800 800 5000”.