Former deputy head who admitted child abduction is sentenced
A former deputy headteacher has been given a suspended jail sentence after he admitted abducting a 15-year-old pupil and taking her out for meals.
Brian Knowles, 58, of Beechmore Road, Sheldon, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to four charges of child abduction.
He has since resigned as deputy head at Barr's Hill School in Radford, Coventry.
He was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, at Warwick Crown Court.
The court heard that the relationship was not sexual and there were no instances of violence or touching.
Knowles sent the teenager inappropriate text messages, took her shopping and ate with her at fast food restaurants, the jury heard.
Judge Marten Coates told Knowles he was satisfied he did not pose an adequate enough threat to children in the future to impose an immediate custodial sentence.
He did not impose a sexual offences prevention order as part of sentence, but put in place a 12-month supervision order.