A former teacher has been jailed for four years after sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 four separate times.

Edward Ryan, 67, of Venmore Drive, Dunmow, was found guilty on four counts of sexual assault.

He was sentenced to four years for each count, to run concurrently, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.

Ryan will also be subject to a five year sexual harm prevention order and put on the sex offenders list for life.

Investigating officer Dc Pat Snape said: “This man groomed a child and abused his position of trust and his sentence will hopefully give the victim some sort of justice for the horrific offences they suffered.”

The offences took place in private lessons whilst Ryan was working as a teacher at an Essex primary school. The paedophile is also a former governor from Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow.

Simon Knight, headteacher at Helena Romanes School, said: "Ryan resigned as Chair of Governors as soon as the allegations against him came to light in October 2015, severing all links with our school from that time.

"We would like to reiterate that none of the charges against him related to his work as a governor at our school.

"We take the safety and wellbeing of our pupils extremely seriously and have robust safeguarding procedures in place. Governors never have unsupervised contact with pupils.”

An NSPCC spokesperson for the East of England said: “As a teacher Ryan should have been protecting children. Instead, he exploited his position of trust to sickeningly abuse a young girl in his care.

“He cruelly made his victim relive his depraved crimes in court rather than admit his guilt and it is her tremendous courage that has helped put him behind bars."

Contact Childline on 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk for help and advice.