A Humberside college chief has spoken out to re-assure learners and parents after a former member of staff was jailed for sexually assaulting a young girl.
Ex-Hull College theater technician Andrew Clark, aged 36, was jailed for seven years and four months at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to a number of sex offences involving a girl under the age of 13.
Clark, of Pelham Road, Immingham, was arrested on June 11 last year in connection with sex offences committed in the Cottingham area between June 30 and October 3, 2012.
He was charged in September last year with seven counts of sexual assault and pleaded guilty to the offences in December.
Hull College, where Clark worked from April 2012, has sought to re-assure the public that none of the offences related to any of its students.
He was sacked after less than six months at the college after police raided his home and found indecent images of children on his computer, for which he was given a caution.
College chief operating officer Lee Probert said: “Andrew Clark was previously employed by Hull College as a theatre technician. He had been subject to an enhanced CRB check before being offered the post.
“Mr Clark was dismissed in October 2012 in connection to a separate matter to his conviction – these did not concern any current or past students of Hull College Group.”
According to the Hull Daily Mail, Clark had previously taught music at Sydney Smith School, Anlaby, but his conviction did not relate to his time there either. He was sentenced on Friday, February 14.
Humberside Police’s DC Teresa Colledge, who led the investigation, said: “Myself and the officers that worked on this investigation welcome the sentence handed by the Judge at Hull Crown Court.
“Andrew Clark is a man who caused significant distress to a vulnerable girl and, all along he knew that everything he was doing was wrong and what potential harm this was causing to her.
“I am pleased that this Paedophile has been locked away for a number of years and does not pose any further harm to his victim.
“I also hope that this sentence will help bring some closure to her. This has been a harrowing ordeal for both her and her family. I hope this means she is now able to move on with her life in the most positive way possible.”
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