A teacher at a Victorian girls' school who admitted having a sexual relationship with one of her students has been jailed for eight months.
The 29-year-old teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to five sex offences between November 2010 and January 2011.
Three teachers at the school had raised concerns about the closeness of the relationship between the girl and the teacher, identified in open court only as STC.
STC was then warned by a senior staff member to stop contacting the student and to discourage her from visiting the teacher's office.
But the sexual relationship continued.
STC pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual penetration of a child under 16 or 17 in her care, supervision or authority, and one count of committing an indecent act.
In the Victorian County Court on Friday, STC was sentenced to three years' jail, with eight months to be served immediately, while the remaining 28 months were suspended.
Judge Michael McInerney said the teacher and her student had built up an 'intense relationship', with the pair expressing their love for one another and exchanging hundreds of text messages.
In sentencing STC, the judge said there was little risk of her reoffending and she had no paedophilic tendencies.
'I'm not satisfied that the prisoner was acting in a predatory manner,' he said.
'Many, including the parents, no doubt disagree with that conclusion.'
A suppression order prevents the naming of the teacher, the school or the location of the offences.
