A teacher at a prestigious private school who engaged in sexual actions with a student over a two-year period was sentenced today to 27 months in prison.

Nicola Park, 42, had sexual relations with the student, 15, for more than two years between 2016 and 2019, before the minor proceeded to university in 2020.

Park’s marriage had gone apart at the time period, and the relationship began after the student approached Park for assistance with a personal matter.

Their meeting included visits to Park’s house, where the instructor referred to the girl as “my angel.”

The activities were exposed after the student informed her doctor, prompting a police investigation and authorities raiding Park’s residence.

Officers discovered a lot of clues linking the two, including images of a’sexual nature.’

She pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to having a sexual relationship with a student whilst in a position of trust between December 9, 2016, and April 14, 2019.

Sheriff John McCormick informed her, ‘This was hardly a blip in an otherwise flawless teaching career.’

‘This was a case of a teacher in her late 30s abusing her trust with an adolescent young female, which included kissing, caressing, and participating in sexual actions.’

‘You were a teacher, and you were in a position of trust and responsibility.

‘Given the nature of the offence, the time it occurred, and my professional responsibility as a teacher at the school, there is no alternative to a jail term in my judgement.’

Park, of Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, was also placed on the sex offenders registry for a period of ten years.

Her information was also sent to the authorities, who stated that she is ‘unsuitable to work with children.’

The instructor worked as an assistant housemistress at the school, as well as teaching arithmetic and social studies.

In December 2016, the child got distraught and approached Park, talking about feeling ‘alone.’

‘She thought Park would not understand how she felt,’ prosecutor Jennifer McKee told the court.

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She said that she understood, having recently divorced her spouse.

‘Park provided the girl with assistance, which assisted her in coping with how she was experiencing.’

The teacher stated that the adolescent might contact her after school hours.

Emails were then sent on a regular basis, including on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Park would later refer to herself as ‘Auntie Nic,’ and would sign off with a series of kisses.

They met at Glasgow’s west end in January 2017. It was ‘understood by both that this would not be discussed with anybody else,’ the court heard.

‘Park stated that they ‘probably shouldn’t be meeting up,’ according to Miss McKee.

‘The girl felt special knowing that Park was willing to breach the rules only to meet her.’

According to the court, the couple met up on Sundays and kissed.

Park later contacted the adolescent before she left on vacation.

‘You are my angel,’ said the effusive message. ‘I adore you to pieces.’

Park afterwards performed sex activities with the female. Park’s former residence in Glasgow’s Hyndland was a frequent destination for the adolescent.

The adolescent, now 18 years old, finally left to begin university and assumed the’relationship had finished.’

However, according to the hearing, Park struggled with the “breakdown” and “displayed manipulative behaviour” toward the youngster.

As a result, the adolescent developed stress, lost more than a stone in weight, and ended up in the hospital.

In September 2020, she went to her doctor and confessed what had happened with Park.

The girl then blocked Park’s contact before notifying the NSPCC.

Police raided Park’s residence in October 2020.

Officers confiscated many images of the couple together, including one on an iPhone.

Park then admitted to having contact with the girl outside of school, but denied any ‘inappropriate’ behaviour.

When she was charged, she insisted, ‘Completely false.’ There was no evidence of sexual activity.’

Park’s attorney stated that he would never work as a teacher again.

‘She committed her life to teaching, and in this specific event, she slipped off and found herself embroiled in a circumstance she now deeply regrets,’ said Ian Patterson, defending.

‘Her reputation has been shattered, her career has been gone, and her friend groups have been lost as a result of his name being splashed throughout media.

‘She is well aware that what she did was utterly wrong and is incredibly sympathetic to the victim, her family, the larger community, and the school.’