A teacher at a secondary school has been sentenced to jail for engaging in sexual relationships with two students. French teacher Josh Mills-Afford reportedly targeted the students during different school trips years apart, according to Nottingham Crown Court.
The 37-year-old, who is a father-of-one residing in West Bridgford, was found to have kissed one of the teenagers in a classroom closet at the school when they attempted to end their brief relationship. During the court proceedings, both victims courageously shared their impact statements, detailing the negative effects of the incidents.
One victim disclosed struggles with sleep and weight loss following the events, mentioning that her aspirations for university were hindered by low grades. The other victim expressed feelings of guilt for keeping her relationship with the perpetrator concealed from her family and friends.
Judge Mark Watson sentenced Mills-Afford, now known as Patrick Thomas, to 22 months in prison, emphasizing that his actions constituted a betrayal of the trust placed in him as an educator. The judge highlighted that schools should be environments where students not only excel academically but also mature into adulthood, and Mills-Afford’s misconduct violated the trust of students, parents, and colleagues.
Prosecutor Mark Bates detailed how the first victim was touched inappropriately during a school trip at a cinema, leading to further sexual encounters. The incidents came to light when the first victim reported the events to the authorities, prompting an investigation that uncovered the second victim’s experiences with Mills-Afford.
Mills-Afford pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to sexual activity with a minor and was also found with an indecent image of a child. The impact statements from the victims highlighted the emotional toll of the teacher’s actions, with one victim expressing fear and a decline in academic performance, while the other victim described feeling manipulated and deceived.
In his defense, Mills-Afford’s lawyer, Simon Eckersley, revealed that the public disclosure of the case led to the breakdown of his client’s marriage, loss of his teaching position, and a permanent ban from teaching. The identities of the victims remain protected by law.