Teacher Judith Evans jailed for grooming, abuse of pupil

Judith Evans, a 33-year-old teacher from Newtownabbey, was sentenced to two years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing a teenage pupil at Belfast Boys Model School. Described by the judge as a 'cold, calculating child predator', Evans exchanged nearly 10,000 explicit messages with the boy, taking advantage of his vulnerabilities. Initially denying the charges, she later pleaded guilty to eight sexual offences, including sexual communication with a child and causing a child to watch a sexual act. The court also heard that Evans attempted to pervert justice by falsely accusing the boy of raping her. Following her conviction, she has been placed on the sex offender register for life and banned from working with children. The case highlights the severe breach of trust by educators who exploit their positions to harm vulnerable students.