‘I have read a letter from the girl in which she sets out her initial confusion at conduct of this sort from one who was not only in a position of authority over her but who she and her brother were expected to trust because their parents trusted him.

‘Her brothers found themselves in a difficult situation and the older brother felt he wasn’t able to protect his sister. She was of a tender age, young, vulnerable and impressionable.

‘There could be no greater recognition of trust than between a minister of religion and pupils whose care is entrusted to him by parents. You breached that trust deliberately and repeatedly.

‘Consequently you have been removed from any employment you have known. You are no longer teaching, you are suffering ill-health and are due to undergo surgical intervention.

‘I bear in mind your own family circumstances. I accept you are a very good father to your six children, your wife speaks little English and administration falls upon you.

‘I bear in mind that social services conducted their own assessment and found that you do not pose a risk. You are now unemployed living on state benefits.

‘I have come to the conclusion that this repeated offending from a person in a position of trust merits a term of imprisonment that crosses the custodial threshold. But I’m satisfied that the sentence of imprisonment in this case for the reasons I have referred to may be suspended.’