Simon Taylor continued to prey on his victim while working at Hethersett Academy, despite receiving a written warning from the school that his conduct was "unprofessional".

The 43-year-old, who had served in the army before becoming a teacher and lost a leg in a bomb attack in Afghanistan, targeted the child after she went to him for support.

Norwich Crown Court was told he presented himself as "someone other than a teacher" and made the pupil feel she should "only need or want to talk to him".

Taylor served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Norfolk-based Light Dragoons (Image: Newsquest)

The two had exchanged messages over a school message board, leading to the written warning.

But contact soon switched to via email and phone, where Taylor sent explicit pictures and would often resort to emotional blackmail and threaten to harm himself if the victim did not send him pictures.

He pleaded guilty to five charges at an earlier trial at Norwich Crown Court, including sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

Taylor also admitted two counts of sexual assault involving intentional touching and two counts of........

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