‘Sick and twisted’ instructor took virginity of two pupils after journeys to McDonald’s
Anthony Redmond, 54, was convicted of abusing his position of trust at Notre Dame Catholic School in Plymouth, where he had sex with two students at his home, school and even a hotel
Anthony Redmond was sentenced
A former teacher has been jailed after having sex with two pupils while working at an all-girls Catholic school. Anthony Redmond, now 54, from Fort Austin Avenue, Plymouth, faced trial at Plymouth Crown Court following an inquiry by detectives.
He denied eight charges – five instances of abuse of a position of trust by engaging in sexual activity with one girl under 18, two instances of abuse of a position of trust by engaging in sexual activity with a second girl and one instance of indecency with a child at a hotel.
The crimes spanned a period in the 2000s when Redmond was a geography teacher at the Notre Dame Catholic school on Looseleigh Lane, Plymouth.
Throughout the trial, the jury was told that the offences occurred at his home, within the school grounds, at a hotel and another location, reports Plymouth Live.
In addition to full sexual intercourse with both victims, one incident involved him performing oral sex on one girl in a school cupboard, while another saw him digitally penetrate his second victim in the school staff room.
One of the victims testified at Plymouth Crown Court, expressing how she felt “used and worthless” due to Redmond’s actions. The court was told that Redmond had taken the virginity of both his victims.
Despite Redmond’s denial of the allegations, the jury unanimously found him guilty of all charges. At today’s sentencing hearing, prosecutor Kelly Scrivener highlighted that Redmond was in his late 20s when the offences occurred, roughly double the age of his victims.
She revealed that in his pre-sentence report, Redmond had referenced a “different culture” from that era.
Addressing the court, she said: “He’s wrong about that. It was, as he’s very much found out, illegal, even back then, what he was doing to these young students.”
The prosecutor noted that the report’s author had also uncovered evidence of Redmond “minimising his behaviour and victim blaming”.
Ms Scrivener presented a statement from one of the two victims, who branded Redmond as “sick and twisted”. The victim described how, before meeting him, she was solely concentrated on her studies.
She stated that Redmond “took advantage of my naiveite and young age” and exploited his teaching role “to groom me and violate me for his own sexual gratification”.
In her statement, she wrote: “At 16-years-old I should not have lost my virginity to a man of his age, let alone the fact that he was in a position of trust to me”.
She highlighted how Redmond’s continued denials had compelled her to “further endure and relive the things that happened.”
The victim argued that his cover-up attempts demonstrated he had “no remorse”.
She added: “He is clearly a sick and twisted man that had a thing for young girls and I truly believe that he is a danger to the community and should never be allowed in a position of such trust around young girls again.”
One victim, speaking via video link, revealed the lasting impact of Redmond’s actions, stating that the damage he inflicted “would last a lifetime”.
Now a mother herself, she expressed her resentment at being “groomed” by Redmond, losing her virginity to him and feeling worthless, saying: “I did not want to feel worthless – he chose this for me”.
She detailed how Redmond singled her out, saying: “He picked me out of a crowd and flirted with me, whispered in my ear when no-one was looking trips to McDonalds at lunchtime and extra-long glances to make me feel special”.
She went on to say: “He dared to play with my innocence , my vulnerability, my body. When he was done he pestered me, about whether he had taken my virginity. That was his concern. I was just another schoolgirl.
“He took me to a hotel at 15, but waited until I was 16 to do what he really wanted. The law said 16 was better than 15. A few weeks meant everything, but the damage would last a lifetime.”
The victim voiced her anger at Redmond’s ability to exploit his position in an all-girls school, stating: “I am angry that he was able to exist in an all-girls school and force his perverted predatory behaviour on me.”
She described his various roles as a “Geography teacher, a pianist, a Catholic role model – all a cover up for his disgusting intentions which I endured.”
The victim also criticised the school and other teachers, accusing those who knew or suspected anything of having “turned the other way”.
With her voice shaking as she read her statement, she said that during her “most vulnerable years no-one within the school showed the strength to put me first.”
She revealed how he had reached out to her afterwards in a bid to cover his tracks, “always manipulating, making sure that I stayed quiet”.
She explained: “I was his perfect victim by not speaking out. But keeping his dirty acts a secret has never sat right with me.”
In mitigation, his barrister Ali Rafati highlighted that his client was now 54, married with two children and had no prior convictions.
Mr Rafati pointed to the numerous character references from family, friends, neighbours and professional contacts.
He also emphasised how the offences were “historic” having occurred 20 years ago. Regarding risk, he argued the offences were both “historic and situational to where this happened”.
Mr Rafati also referenced Redmond’s assertion that this took place during a “different generation, a different time” when the legislation underpinning this “type of offending” was “very young” and had “just come in”.
Citing a letter penned to the judge by one of Redmond’s own children, Mr Rafati described his client as having been a “model father”.
Mr Rafati stated that Redmond had endured “public disgrace”, had lost his career, lost his professional identity and “his standing in the community”.
Appearing at court today Judge Robert Linford sentenced Redmond to a total of three years and nine months imprisonment.
He confirmed Redmond would serve half before being considered for release on licence. He was also handed a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting either victim for 20 years.
Redmond will also be listed on the Sex Offender Register and be subject to the barring service.
