³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

A college lecturer has been given a suspended jail sentence after admitting sharing sexual images with a "vulnerable" former student.

Ian Powell, 60, was seen by the young woman as a "father figure", but their relationship became sexual after she left classes at Coleg Gwent.

Newport Crown Court heard he received photographs and videos of the young woman.

Seven of them were in the most serious category and one video showed the young woman using a sex toy Powell had bought for her.

The court heard he was seen kissing the girl in a local park, when young people shouted "paedo" at him.

Coleg Gwent became aware of the relationship and the police began an investigation.

Powell, from Bettws, Monmouthshire, was arrested in December 2023 when police found two category A videos and five category A images on his electronic devices.

Eight category B images and 32 category C images were also found.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the young woman said she thought she "messed up" when she revealed what had happened between her and her former tutor.

She wrote: "I felt bad that I was getting someone into trouble.

"I didn't realise how serious it was. I thought it would die down.

"People kept saying it wasn't my fault."

A further 40 images were category B and C. Powell admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

Judge Shomon Khan told him: "You were grooming her towards something else. She was clearly vulnerable given her circumstances and age.

"The victim was not to blame, she was still a child. Only you are to blame."

The judge added: "Your career has been destroyed. You deserve that. You put your sexual needs above the welfare of the girl.

"I don't understand why you acted in this way. It is a complete mystery to me."

Powell will also be required to complete 30 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, he will have to pay court costs and a victim surcharge totalling £337.

Monique McKevitt of the Crown Prosecution (CPS) said: "It is a criminal offence to access indecent images of anyone under the age of 18, and doing so only perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children.

"Ian Powell was aware of the victim’s age but continued to exchange inappropriate messages of a sexual nature to satisfy his own sexual desires. As a college tutor, he knew this was wrong."

Powell was sentenced to 10-months in jail, suspended for two years.