A teacher who sexually abused a boy she tutored has been jailed for seven years.

Deborah Franklin, 65, who taught at a preparatory school in Hertfordshire, was the complainant's private tutor during the 1990s and had subjected him to "repeated sexual activity" while he was aged between nine and 12.

In July, she was convicted of eight counts of gross indecency against the boy after a trial.

At a sentencing hearing at St Albans Crown Court, Judge Choudhry told Franklin her offending had involved a "profound abuse of trust".

Prosecutor Gavin Pottinger told Thursday's hearing that Franklin "took the opportunities provided by her role and the trust placed in her to repeatedly abuse [the boy]".

Aisling Byrnes, defending, said Franklin, of Radlett, Hertfordshire, had lived an "exemplary life" and had continued to teach in the years after the offences were committed.

She added that her client, who denied all charges and could not remember tutoring the boy, "maintains her innocence".

The former teacher was in her 30s and married at the time of the offences, her trial had heard.

The prosecution said sexual encounters had taken place at both the boy's home and Franklin's, and that she referred to herself as his "girlfriend" while advising him to keep the relationship secret.

The victim said that he had "no memory of work ever being done" during tutoring sessions, the court heard.

He first reported the incidents to police in March 2024.

Byrnes previously told the court that Franklin was no longer working at the school and had been involved with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) charity before her conviction.

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