New crime podcast out now: Deputy head sentenced for abusing pupil

The Oxfordshire Court and Crime Podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of all the latest trials, sentences, and more taking place across Oxfordshire’s courts.

Season two launched on Friday, February 7 with episode one focusing on the sentencing of Catherine Pearl.

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Pearl, known as Cathy, was the assistant headteacher at Didcot Girls School when she started sexually abusing a teenage girl.

When the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, started at the secondary school, the 50-year-old was her head of year.

Pearl and the girl became ‘very close’ and eventually the conversations became sexual. When the girl turned 16, a sexual ‘relationship’ began and continued for several years.

Judge Emma Nott sentenced Pearl, of Sutton Close, Abingdon, to 28 months imprisonment at Oxford Crown Court on Friday (January 24) for two counts of sexual activity with a girl as an adult abusing a position of trust, on no fewer than 10 occasions on each count.

Judge Nott added that the sentence is too long to suspend but that she would not have granted a suspension in any case.

READ MORE: Pensioner charged with indecently abusing child in 1990s

To listen to the newest episode of the podcast, head to Apple, Spotify, and more. 

Listeners only need to search for ‘The Oxfordshire Court and Crime Podcast’.

Have questions for the podcast? Email [email protected] with the subject heading ‘Crime Podcast Question’.