A MUSIC teacher who gave a male pupil alcohol before getting into bed with him has been jailed for 15 months.

Neil Moore invited the teenager to his Hereford home where they viewed each other’s profiles on a gay dating website.

During the night they performed a consensual sex act and Moore then bombarded the young man with text messages, said Peter Grice, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

The texts came to the attention of another teacher at Hereford Cathedral School and an investigation began.

Moore resigned and later attempted suicide. His life was saved after police forced the door of his flat.

Judge Patrick Thomas told 31-year-old Moore, now of Erris Grove, Belfast, he had carried out “the deliberate seduction” of a vulnerable pupil who was unsettled in his sexuality.

The judge said parents were entitled to expect teachers not to cause emotional harm to their children.

Moore admitted sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

He had worked at the school since 2002 but in December last year invited the pupil – who told his father he was staying with a friend – to his home.

They watched a film before Moore initiated the sexual conduct, telling the teenager to keep it secret, said Mr Grice.

On February 2, police went to Moore’s flat to find him badly hurt with injuries to his throat.

Bruce Gray, defending, said the murder of his sister in 2006, when she was stabbed in the throat, affected Moore badly. He saw life as too short – and began engaging in more promiscuous behaviour.

But he said Moore was not a predatory paedophile and the crime was an isolated case. He said: “He’s devastated by what he’s done. He thrown everything away he’s worked for.”

Mr Gray said although he could never teach again, he had been accepted for a masters degree in music at Cambridge and planned to be a professional musician.

He abused his position: what the school said

Hereford Cathedral School and Hereford Cathedral made a joint statement after the court hearing.

They said Mr Moore was appointed as a music teacher and as a supernumerary lay clerk of Hereford Cathedral following a full Criminal Records Bureau check.

As soon as the school was made aware of a concern about Mr Moore, it implemented its standard procedures.

This involved immediate referral to social services. The school, as well as the cathedral chapter, says it also cooperated fully with the police.

Paul Smith, the headmaster of Hereford Cathedral School, said: “During his time at our school, Mr Moore was a popular, successful and enthusiastic teacher.

“However, Mr Moore has clearly abused his position of trust which all teachers have the utmost responsibility to uphold.

“Teachers are in privileged positions of trust when working with young people, and there can be no excuse for abusing that trust.”

The Very Rev Michael Tavinor, the Dean of Hereford Cathedral and the president of Hereford Cathedral School, said: “The care of children and young people is at the forefront of Christ’s teachings and is one of the primary responsibilities of all members of the church.

“We are committed to working in partnership with families, schools and other agencies to ensure that the welfare of children and young people is constantly safeguarded and promoted.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is involved in this distressing case.”