Abstract Abduction of a 15-year-old girl in 2012, by her teacher, Mr K. Child G was involved in a sexual relationship with Mr K, which began around her 15th birthday. Mr K was found guilty of abduction and admitted a number of charges of sexual activity with a child under 16-years; he received a custodial sentence of 5-and-a-half-years. Concerns relating to Child G and Mr K's relationship were raised seven times with the school prior to the incident. Identifies serious concerns relating to school's actions, including: failure to identify the abuse and exploitation of Child G; optimistic assumptions and fixed thinking in relation to Mr K's behaviour; failure to hear concerns raised by students; failure to involve Child G's mother; insufficient recognition of Mr K's inappropriate use of Twitter to communicate with Child G; serious concerns with the ways in which information was recorded, stored, retrieved and provided for the review. Identifies procedural failings in police handling of allegations relating to inappropriate images of Mr K on Child G's phone. Makes various interagency and single agency recommendations covering: East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board, children's services, school and police services.
