A schoolboy who was groomed into a sexual association by a school teaching assistant twice his age says the suffering has left him disturbed and powerless to relate with women.
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| Caroline Berriman, 30, from Oldham, avoided a jail sentence last week despite admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child |
The boy, only known as 'Jack', was 15 when he was seduced more than '50 times' by his then 30-year-old teaching assistant Caroline Berriman, of Oldham, Greater Manchester.
But Berriman, who taught at the 1,600-pupil Abraham Moss Community School, avoided jail last week, receiving a suspended two-year sentence - despite admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child.
Two years on, 'Jack' appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss Berriman's sentencing, which he described as 'disgusting', and to urge others in a similar situation to have the courage to come forward.
According to the programme, two teachers every month are banned from schools in England for having sex with pupils - a figure that's trebled in the last year.
With his back to the camera and his voice digitally altered to protect his identity, Jack described how he was groomed by Berriman via Facebook and text messages.
He said: 'She started coming into my classes doing one-to-one tuition… it was just talking at first.
'The [text] messages increased from "Hi, how you doing?" to talking all through the day even when I was in lessons. It carried on and got more serious.'
He went on to say how their relationship continued and that she even told her two-year-old daughter to call him Dad.
I'd say, "I'm not your Dad, I'm just your mum's friend",' he said.
Revealing how the relationship became more manipulative, he said: 'She said that I had to keep it secret because if anybody found out she would lose her family, she'd lose her daughter and she'd get into serious trouble.'
By then Jack describes how he wanted to end the relationship but Berriman was making it difficult, so he made the brave decision to tell his mother.
'She was mortified,' he said. 'She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to make me upset and emotional about what I'd been going through. She just sat me down and said, "Look, you have to end it, it's against the law."'
The aftermath of the relationship affected both his social life and school work.
Jack said: 'I couldn't deal with it. I can't look at a girl anymore or be in the same room as a woman on my own.
He added: 'My confidence is just broken, I used to be confident and have girlfriends, and I'm now just shattered.'
Teaching assistant Caroline Berriman, 30, from Oldham, avoided a jail sentence last week despite admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child
When asked his thoughts on her two-year suspended sentence and 250 hours of community work, Jack said: 'I think it's disgusting. I want to get this out there.
'I want people to understand that even though they might not have seen or heard what happened, I want it to be out there for the main reason that I never want it to happen [again], I wouldn't wish it on anybody. I totally don't agree about why she got what she did.
'I'd say to others - it is against the law - and if they have broken the law then they should be punished.
Jack has previously revealed how they had sex 50 times over two months, often unprotected - with Caroline even telling him he had made her pregnant.
Berriman also allegedly asked him to run away with her, saying that if he declined to do so it would break her daughter’s heart.
Jack also urged other people in his situation to come forward: 'No matter how scared you are and how fragile you are, they should come forward and talk to people.'
Jack's relationship with Berriman - who tutored him in maths and English - was exposed after he confessed to his brother and mother, and eventually contacted ChildLine.
Manchester Crown Court was told earlier this month that she took part in sex acts with the boy - and was first hauled before the court in July, but the case was adjourned when she fell ill.
Berriman, 30, admitted that she had penetrative sex and oral sex with the boy while she was teaching at Abraham Moss Community School in Manchester.
The court was told of at least two sex acts the pair engaged in, and that Berriman was fully aware the boy was not yet 16 so could not legally consent.
Berriman must also obey a restraining order prohibiting her from contacting the boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons. He did not attend court and has now left the school.
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