by Keith Hunt

A former teacher at a Kent school is facing sentence after admitting a sexual offence with a pupil.

Mark Spendley committed the offence while teaching at the Hundred of Hoo comprehensive near Rochester. The girl has since left.

Married Spendley, of High Street, Queenborough, Sheppey, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

After the guilty plea, the prosecution dropped a second charge of causing or inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday: “There was some grooming because the defendant allowed the situation to continue over a significant period.”

A psychiatric report is being prepared on Spendley, who was not present for the brief hearing, and he will be sentenced on July 19. He is on bail.

The media teacher was suspended after the allegations were made.

The victim and another former pupil later claimed they had affairs with him.

Dr Gary Holden, executive principal of the Hundred of Hoo School, said after Spendley’s arrest: “The safety of all of our pupils is an absolute priority for us and as soon as these allegations came to light this teacher was immediately suspended and barred from the school grounds.”