Calum Lacey 34

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A TEACHER from Southampton who caused two children "significant psychological harm" by sending them sexually-explicit messages during lockdown has been jailed for two years.

Calum Lacey admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and inciting another girl to engage in sexual activity.

The 33-year-old of Station Road, Southampton, questioned one of his victims about her bra size and sexual preferences, Southampton Crown Court was told.

Lacey was among the perverts who preyed on school-age children confined to their homes as the first wave of Covid swept Britain in 2020.

Stuart Ellacotte, prosecuting, said one of the defendant's victims threatened to report his behaviour but Lacey begged her not to, saying he would lose his livelihood and his girlfriend.

Mr Ellacotte said Lacey was arrested in March last year and told police: "I made a mistake".

"He was drinking heavily and accepted he may have crossed the line when drinking."

In a statement read to the court by Mr Ellacotte, one of Lacey's victims said: "It will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Stephen Tricker, mitigating, accepted that the defendant's behaviour had a "profound" effect on his two victims.

He added: "Mr Lacey does not seek to minimise or fail to identify and accept his wrongdoing. He has accepted it head-on.

"He has lost his home, he has lost his relationship, and he has lost his career. He has paid a very high price for his conduct."

Mr Tricker said Lacey was ashamed of his behaviour.

He added: "His relationship was failing. He was drinking heavily and he was depressed. Before this, he was someone of previous good character."

The offences were committed between March and October 2020.

Judge Christopher Parker KC said Lacey's behaviour had caused his victims significant psychological harm.

He told him: "You have no previous convictions and have taken some steps to address your behaviour. You entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity."

But he jailed the defendant for 12 months for each offence. The two terms will run consecutively.

Judge Parker said: "The gravity of these offences, and the gravity of the consequences, is such that it is not possible to suspend these sentences."

Lacey was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years and was also placed on the sexual offenders' register for ten years.