text: A young choirmaster at an exclusive private school took a vulnerable student's virginity just months after she confided in him that she had been abused by another music teacher, a court heard. Edward Moore was working in his first job as assistant director of music at King Edward's School in Witley, Surrey, when he had consensual sex with the 16-year-old student in his office. After the incident, the 24-year-old said to her: 'Oh my God, you have to forgive me, you will hate me one day.' Moore, from Ascot, Berkshire, was jailed for nine months on Friday after admitting two counts of abusing a position of trust and sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17 years. A choirmaster at King Edward's School (above) in Witley, Surrey, took a vulnerable student's virginity just months after she confided in him that she had been abused by another music teacher, a court heard . He had only been working for a few months when he began to grow close to the student. The girl came to him in November 2012 to reveal she had been touched inappropriately by another music teacher when she was aged just 13. Moore, who was the girl’s choirmaster, had only been at the school for a few months. Gary Ponds, prosecuting at Guildford Crown Court, told how Moore had taken on a counselling role for the traumatised young girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. He said: 'Their relationship over time developed until it was past the point of a proper teaching relationship.' While Moore did not teach the girl he was in position of authority as her choirmaster. After rumours began circulating at the £29,000-a-year school, which Sally Bercow previously attended, the headmaster warned Moore not to spend any more time alone with the pupil or let her into his office. But their friendship blossomed into a sexual relationship over the summer of 2013. They sometimes spent Friday nights together and secretly travelled to Westminster Abbey and the Isle of Wight on trips. Mr Ponds said that on one Friday Moore asked if the student wanted have sexual intercourse. Gary Ponds, prosecuting at Guildford Crown Court (above), told how Edward Moore, 24, had taken on a counselling role for the traumatised young girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons . He continued: 'She agrees and that is what happened. She made it clear that she was a virgin at the time. 'It was abundantly clear throughout that this was an emotionally fragile girl.' There was no further sexual activity and Moore, who did not use a condom, cut communication with the pupil. She later rang Childline because she was feeling suicidal and confessed about the tryst to a school chaplain, who was obliged to tell the school. Judge Peter Moss said the impact of Moore's offending had forced the schoolgirl to move to another school and left her with 'long term implications on her education and her future dreams'. He described her as a 'bright and ambitious girl'. He added: 'Her emotions have been in a high degree of mess because of your actions. 'You knew of her vulnerabilities, that is how you came to be in the proximity. Taking her on trips amounts to a grooming of her. 'It appears by this stage she was starry-eyed and in love with you and you expressed the same to her. The £29,000-a-year school was previously attended by Sally Bercow, pictured (above) in 2014 . 'The following week you took her virginity without a condom. These are all aggravating features. 'You stole her innocence.' Moore, dressed in a white shirt and blue tie, wiped his eyes as details of his victim's trauma were read to the court. Rina-Marie Hill, defending, said Moore had struggled to cope with the pressure of hearing the details of the student's previous abuse in his first term of work, having no experience of teaching or any training. She said: 'He wasn't allocated the complainant to look after, she came to him and for a significant time their relationship was a proper student-teacher relationship. 'The activity ceased because of Mr Moore's actions - he realised he had gone too far and he distanced himself from the complainant.' The choirmaster described the two instances of sexual activity over two weeks as a 'horrific mistake' that he would 'pay for for the rest of his life,' the court heard. Ms Hill added: 'He will never teach again and he will have this conviction on his record for the rest of his life.' Judge Moss told the court he found it 'impossible' to avoid imposing an immediate custodial sentence, despite Moore's early admission of guilt and previous 'exemplary' character. Sentencing he said: 'It is abundantly clear that you have much to offer and that this is out of character. 'But the message must be understood by those in positions of trust, however young. 'You were 23, an intelligent man who knew what you were dealing with. You knew that she had immature, young and fragile emotions and there can be no mercy for someone who abuses that.' Moore will also be put on the Sex Offenders Register and will be barred from working with children. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
target: Edward Moore was working at King Edward's School in Witley, Surrey .
  Had sexual intercourse with 16-year-old in his office and then cut contact .
  24-year-old jailed for nine months on Friday at Guildford Crown Court .