Ex-Teacher Jailed Over 5 Years for Grooming Teen Students
A former teacher has been locked up for more than five years after grooming and sexually abusing two teenage girls in his care. Paul Clifton, 55, from Sidcup, was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison following multiple child sexual offence convictions.
Damning Charges Against Paul Clifton
- Sexual communications with a child
- Sexual activity involving touching
- Four counts of sexual activity involving penetration
- Causing and inciting sexual activity with a child
- Two counts of abusing his position of trust to cause or incite sexual activity
Clifton has also been slapped with a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Children’s Barred List, banning him from ever working with children again.
Grooming Spanned Over A Decade
Court heard Clifton targeted vulnerable teenage girls over a ten-year period. In 2006, Alison* was just 15 and a pupil in a Kent school when Clifton manipulated her, forcing her to send explicit photos and convincing her they were in love. He repeatedly belittled her and controlled her through secret messages.
Fast forward to 2017, Katherine*, also 15 and at a Surrey school, fell victim to Clifton’s grooming. He preyed on her stress and insecurities, offering support via creative writing before turning to abuse.
Victims Speak Out on Devastating Impact
“Paul Clifton made me feel stupid and unworthy. He created an image that I would never amount to anything without him. What happened to me is something that can never be undone,”
said Alison.
“Asking how this impacts my life is like asking someone how they breathe. The age I was at is pivotal — when you start finding yourself. He robbed that from me,”
added Katherine.
Police Praise Victims’ Bravery
Detective Constable Nicola Deadman slammed Clifton as a “predator who targeted children” and praised the victims for their courage.
“As a teacher, he should have kept his students safe. Instead, he abused his position to groom and exploit them. The bravery of these girls in coming forward and reliving these horrors to see justice done is remarkable,”
she said.
Shining Light on School Safeguarding Failures
This shocking case raises urgent questions about how schools protect vulnerable students from those entrusted with their care. The long-term harm caused by such abuse leaves scars that never fully heal.
Related: Police are still Friendly even on High Alert
Read more from Bexley.
*Names have been changed to protect victims’ identities.
