An assistant teacher at a Donegal secondary school had sex with a 14 year old pupil after striking up a relationship with her on a Facebook page.
Letterkenny court.
The man, who was in his 20s at the time, was taking part in a Strictly Come Dancing event at the school.
He received a message from the young girl and they began an online friendship.
However some time later the teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent the girl a picture of his erect penis.
They then arranged to meet on two occasions between February and April of 2012.
The first time they met she was very drunk but he was sober and they met at her grandmother’s vacant home in East Donegal.
On that occasion he had oral and full sex with the girl who was a virgin at the time.
The following day he contacted the girl and told her what had happened was a mistake and should not happen again.
The on April 8th, 2012, she had been drinking heavily at her family home and sent the man a text at 10pm.
He said he had been at a rugby match and became aroused when she contacted him.
They arranged to meet again and he asked her to bring a condom as he had not got one with him.
Again full sex took place and she said he was much rougher than the first time.
Barrister for the man, Martin Giblin, told Letterkenny Circuit Court today the man had become completely ostracised from his community.
Before this he had been fine sportsman who enjoyed boxing and rugby.
He said he had also apologised to the woman.
The man, who pleaded guilty to the defilement of a child on two occasions, sat the back of the courtroom wringing his hands and weeping throughout the case.
He had no previous convictions and came from a hard-working and decent family who were very upset by what had happened.
The man has also had to move out of his local area.
Judge Matthew Deery said the man has been co-operative and apologetic.
“The position is she was vulnerable and the offences are obviously serious,” he said.
He added that it was clear that he took advantage of her.
He sentenced the man to two years for each charge but suspended the last six months of each sentence meaning the man will serve 18 months in prison.