A teacher was today sentenced to a year in prison suspended for two years for having a sexual relationship with a pupil.

Gareth Aspey, 29, a science teacher at Skipton Girls High School, resigned after his relationship with the then 17-year-old girl was revealed, Bradford Crown Court was told.

The court heard that Aspey had sex with the pupil three times – in December 2012 and in March and July last year.

Judge Peter Benson read a statement from the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in which she said she was a willing participant in the relationship and did not believe herself to be a victim.

She had been suffering from depression and was going through a period of self-harming when the relationship started – something Aspey was aware of.

The court was told Aspey was also suffering from depression at the time – having returned to work after undergoing cancer treatment.

Judge Benson also ordered Aspey, of Alkincoats Road, Colne, to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and sign the sex offenders’ register for ten years which bans him from working with children.