The sentence handed to a teacher who held a girl's bum and kissed her head branded 'shocking'

One person said: "So concerns about behaviour and warnings but was still kept as a teacher? He was not naïve, and being a new teacher did not matter! Everyone knows the law, and abusing you girls is illegal. He should have gone to jail to protect the public. Do not do a short course! All that was investigated by the police... just for that sentence! Shocking."

Adam Hart

Readers have slammed a sentence handed to a teacher who lifted a girl by her bottom and kissed her head after he walked free from court. Adam Hart, 29, was given a three-year community order after admitting sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 to 17 - adult abuse of a position of trust at Birmingham Crown Court.

The court heard that Hart, of Elmwood Road, Telford, also told the vulnerable girl she was "addictive" and that hugging her was "infectious" after she had gone to him for support. The defendant was said to be a new teacher and "naïve" with his behaviour, particularly towards girls, prompting multiple warnings from staff whilst leaving his mentor "exasperated".

Speaking courageously at his sentencing hearing, the victim said she now struggles to trust men. Readers blasted Hart's sentence, saying he should have been jailed.

One person said: "So concerns about behaviour and warnings but was still kept as a teacher? He was not naïve, and being a new teacher did not matter! Everyone knows the law, and abusing you girls is illegal. He should have gone to jail to protect the public. Do not do a short course! All that was investigated by the police... just for that sentence! Shocking."

Another added: "Reading stories like this makes my blood boil. If staff had concerns over his behaviour, he should have been out of school quickly! Staff members often cover for each other over inadequacies, improper standards, or neglect! Then after the event, well, we did think something untoward etc. Or we should have done this, or we should have done that! Some neglectful staff members even get to stay in the same profession."

One person said: "Absolute joke makes me sick!" And another added: "How did he not go to jail."