by Paul Hooper
phooper@thekmgroup.co.uk

A former Canterbury school teacher who kissed and fondled a teenage girl has been ordered to take therapy to deal with his sex offending.

Anthony Carlile, 28, was seen to stroke the girl’s thigh before inviting her back to his home.

He admitted abusing his position of trust to engage in sexual activity and was given a two-year community order.

Carlile, who has since quit teaching and moved to Oxfordshire, was also ordered to undergo the Thames Valley Sex Offenders Programme.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that his relationship with the girl “crossed the boundaries” when he began buying her presents.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor said that he was seen to flirt with her, telling her she looked beautiful and he put his arm around her.
“She would later say that she was ridiculously flattered by it.
“He told her that he didn’t have a girlfriend and proceeded to touch her thigh and to stroke it several times, “ he added.

Mr Taylor said the teacher offered to give the girl a lift in his car and as they walked towards the vehicle, he turned and kissed her on the mouth.
“She told him to stop and he did. On the way home, the car stopped at a level crossing when he put his hand on her leg and he tried to kiss her again.”

Carlile’s lawyer Philip Rowley said: “As a consequence of this conviction he recognises that he must put behind him any thought of a teaching career.
“He has put this sorry and ill-judged behaviour behind him and is in an age-appropriate relationship with someone studying at Oxford University.
“He has forged a new career in IT and is now a sales manager for a company in the Oxfordshire area.”

Carlile was also banned from working with children for five years and has signed the sex offenders’ register.

Judge James O’Mahony told him: “You were in a position of clear trust and you are guilty of gross breach of that trust. In your favour you did stop before it got more serious.”