PORTSMOUTH (UNITED KINGDOM)
BBC [London, England]
December 3, 2025
A former teacher has been found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing a “vulnerable” teenager who was one of his pupils.
Edward Waller sent naked photos of himself before having sex with the girl in 2005 while he was teaching at St Anne’s Catholic School in Southampton, Hampshire, prosecutors said.
The 66-year-old, of Winter Road, Southsea, was convicted of sexual activity with a child and two counts of inciting child sexual activity, all committed by a person in a position of trust.
Sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court was adjourned to 5 February.
The history teacher knew his victim, who was then aged 16 to 17, “was a vulnerable girl who was having significant issues at home”, prosecutors said.
He began to give her extra attention, messaging her privately and sending sexual texts and photos.
In December 2005, Waller invited the victim to his home where they had sex, prosecutors added.
‘Significant and lasting effects’
Julia McSorley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Edward Waller used his position as a teacher to manipulate and groom a pupil, who was entrusted into his care.
“In the selfish pursuit of his own sexual gratification, he burdened her with the significant and lasting effects of this offending. The impact remains ongoing.
“I want to thank the victim for her courage and bravery in supporting this prosecution and for giving evidence.”
Waller was found not guilty of rape and was also cleared of a third count of inciting child sexual activity.
In October, another former teacher at the school, 46-year-old Leo Norman, was jailed for 14 months for sexually abusing three teenage girls between 2014 and 2019.
In November, the trial of the school’s former head teacher James Rouse, 49, ended with a hung jury and no verdicts.
The court was told the case was part of a wider police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse at the school and sixth form college.