Martin Fisher 81

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A music teacher who groomed and abused an underage girl 60 years younger than him has been jailed.

Retired head of department Martin Fisher engaged in sexual activity with the girl from the age of 15 and she said he "destroyed" her teenage years.

Now the 80-year-old, never in trouble before, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for having sexual activity with a child. Judge Penny Moreland told him: "You began grooming her and you began to abuse her when she was 15. This was an abusive relationship.

"You have done incalculable harm to her. She says you destroyed her teenage years."

The court heard they engaged in sexual activity before she was 16 and he had sex after she reached that age. At the time, the girl said what was happening made her feel "really grown up" and widower Fisher spoke of them getting married.

At one point police were involved after a report of concern for what was going on but she denied anything sexual was happening as "she cared for him and wanted to protect him". However she went on to disclose what happened to her after reaching adulthood after realising how young she had been when it first began.

In a victim impact statement, she said: "I wish to say this has been extremely difficult for me to deal with. I started having suicidal thoughts and it was a massive relief when he pleaded guilty.

"He should not be around children. He destroyed my teenage years for his benefit."

Fisher, of Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to eleven charges of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for six years. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life, was given an indefinite restraining order and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Sue Hirst, defending, said: "He accepts full responsibility for his actions in respect of these offences and he deeply regrets the hurt he has caused to her. He is now 80 years of age and finds it difficult to understand how he placed himself in this position, having lived a respectable, law-abiding life for more than seven decades.

"It was wholly inappropriate what took place but he was not pressuring her into things or being unpleasant about it. It's clear she cared very much for him as well.

"He cared very much about her and even spoke about their relationship being public. He understands how wrong his actions were."

Miss Hirst added: "He had been a husband and a father and he worked for many years as a teacher and was a head of department in several schools. He provided details of the schools he worked at to the police and there have been no further issues.

"Music was still very important to him and after taking early retirement he provided singing lessons to people in schools and on a private basis."