A Home Office civil servant who had sex with a gir
A Home Office civil servant who had sex with a girl he was tutoring at his private weekend school was jailed for 21 months at the Old Bailey today.
(Fri)
Immigration official Seth Lawson, 47, gave extra classes for youngsters at a church hall, the court heard.
He took the 13-year-old back to his home in Stockwell Road where she was molested by Lawson after he had set her homework.
Lawson had been accused of raping the youngster, but a jury failed to reach a verdict on that offence and the charge was dropped.
However, the jury convicted Lawson of indecent assault after he admitted that they had sexual intercourse, but he claimed, on a sexual basis.
The court heard how Lawson told the little girl he wanted to ‘play’ with her when they were at his house.
He then asked her if she wanted to go home, but when she started to walk to the door, Lawson took her to the bedroom.
The terrified girl tried to push him away but Lawson preyed on her and asked: ‘Did I hurt you?’
He then walked the weeping victim to the bus stop, warning her not to tell her mother or he would go to jail.
Lawson turned up at the girl’s home on the following day where he was confronted by her uncle.
He demanded to know what had happened and Lawson replied: ‘I played with her.
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When the uncle asked again, Lawson bluntly replied: ‘Sex.
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Lawson was hit in the face by the incensed relative and the police were called.
He claimed the girl had consented to sex during police interviews and in court.
Lawson, of Burford House, Stockwell Rd, had slumped in the dock with his head in his hands as he was convicted of the one charge of indecent assault on May 29, 1999.
Miss Juliet Oliver, for Lawson, said although the girl was a virgin at the time it was ‘his belief that sex was consensual.
‘He acknowledged a very short time afterwards that it should not have happened.
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Passing sentence Judge Anne Goddard, QC, told Lawson: ‘You accepted in your evidence that you had sexual intercourse with her.
There was no charge of having unlawful sexual intercourse but I cannot ignore it as though it did not take place.
‘The jury had no option in my view but to convict you of indecent assault because in reality you had no defence.
The jury did not have to consider the issue of consent.
‘But this remains a most serious offence because of the activity I described, because of the fact she was a virgin, because she was 13 and you were 47, and because you were a position of trust as a teacher.
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Although Lawson was a man of previous good character the judge said he had failed to control himself on this occasion.
Lawson showed no emotion as he was jailed for 21 months.
His name will remain on the sex offenders register for five years.
ends
