A RUNCORN teacher who admitted inciting sexual activity with his female pupils has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Neil Mason, aged 28, of Coroners Lane, Widnes, admitted 10 charges involving four teenage schoolgirls at The Heath School in Runcorn last year, when he appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday.

Sentencing him, the Recorder of Chester, Judge Elgin Edwards branded him “a sexual predator’.

He said: “Over a period of 12 months, you abused your trust as a maths teacher at The Heath School in Runcorn.

“Your conduct was quite deplorable.

“Parents have a right to expect that their children will be safe when they are in school and be taught, not regarded as sex objects of desire to satisfy a teacher’s sexual lust. That is what you did to these four girls.

“You are a sexual predator.

“You have brought shame on your profession, yourself, your family, your school and your colleagues.

“Children are sent to school to learn and be educated, not to be corrupted by a man like you.

“You have endeavoured to corrupt four girls. This is a parent’s worst nightmare.”

Maria Masselis, prosecuting, told the court that in an interview, Mason had admitted contacting 15 girls, but police had only managed to secure evidence from four victims, two aged 15 and two aged 16.

Mason asked schoolgirls to pose topless for £300 and made sexual suggestions to others, often texting under a pseudonym and and using Facebook.

He sent naked pictures of himself to one 16-year-old girl and admitted kissing her intimately on the lips and stroking her leg.

Ms Massellis told the court: “There was a lengthy and intense history of inappropriate contact.

“He wanted her to go to his home and engage in sexual contact. She felt scared.

“They had two meetings. He drove her to Heath Park. He stroked her leg and kissed her on the mouth.”

She said police found 17 images of the girl, topless and nude, on his computer.

The girl ended up in hospital after three attempts at self harm. She was prescribed medication for anxiety and is to receive counselling.

Other victims said they felt ‘scared’ and ‘betrayed’ and could no longer trust male teachers.

Mason admitted having 20 indecent naked images of himself plus topless pictures of a schoolgirl on his laptop, further charges he asked to be taken into consideration.

Rachel Shenton, defending, said Mason had a serious gambling addiction and faced huge debts. He was now living with his parents who had offered emotional and financial support.

His father had re-paid £41,000, writing off 10 of his pay day loans.

Ms Shenton said: “This was a period of utter madness.This was a man who was going to pieces in every area of his life.

“He has lost everything, his reputation, his good character, his home, his relationship and his career.

“This is a young man who has made a huge mistake with huge implications.”

She said Mason is undergoing professional treatment for his addiction and had enrolled on a master’s degree in quantity surveying and financial management.

Mason was put on the sex offender’s register for life and is disqualified from working with children.

His indecent images will be destroyed.