A schoolteacher jailed for four years for sexual offences against a 15-year-old girl committed a “major abuse of trust”.

John Wunderle, a former teacher at Bancroft’s School in High Road, Woodford Green, was jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court this afternoon.

Additionally, he cannot contact the victim or her family, cannot teach again and will be placed on the sex offenders register.

The 35-year-old, of Greenwich Way in Waltham Abbey, had previously pleaded guilty to five charges when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court via video link on October 20.

He admitted to having sex with the girl between March and June this year, two counts of sexual touching and one count of kissing.   

Today the court heard how Wunderle provided tuition for the girl at her house, which started in September 2013.

In March this year, the sexual relations started between Wunderle and the girl, which both at the time viewed as consensual.

On June 5 he was found by the victim’s mother in a state of undress in her bedroom, leading to his arrest.

He was let out on bail after a preliminary court hearing, but was spotted with the victim in his car on July 31 in High Road, Woodford Green, in breach of the conditions of his release, and has been in police custody since then.

The court heard the two had been planning to run away together to Amsterdam on August 21.

Representing Wunderle, Nan Mousley, called for a suspended sentence due to the case being "exceptional" as he was "infactuated" with the girl.

Also three colleagues from the Bancroft's had provided positive character references about Wunderle.

Prosecutor Nicholas Bleaney read parts of the victim impact statement, which said the victim now felt “manipulated”.

It read: “At the time she thought it was consensual but she now feels she was manipulated.

“Looking back she takes the view he was lying to her or at least adapting the truth. She questions her own judgement and it has dented her confidence."

Sentencing Wunderle to four years, Judge Nigel Peters said: “You are an extremely intelligent, have done extremely well academically and you were a teacher at one of the best schools in the country.

“You would have known the seriousness of this offence and it was a major abuse of trust that outweighs all other factors in this case.

“The offence has cost her and her family great upset and the future is going to be difficult for them.”