Sex offender pupil allowed to return to the school where assault took place

'I thought I wasn’t going to see him. They said I’m their main priority,' says victim

The incident took place in a classroom (iStock)

A 15-year-old sex offender has been allowed to continue attending the school where the assault took place despite protests from the victim.

The teenager from Essex, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, which took place in a classroom, and has been put on the sex offenders register.

While awaiting prosecution he remained at the school and upon being convicted was given a restraining order and told not to approach or contact the victim.

She still attends the school and said that acknowledging her attacker is still there makes her “panic”.

“I thought I wasn’t going to see him. They said I’m their main priority,” she told BBC Inside Out East.

“So now I have to just keep my head down, pretend he’s not there, otherwise it makes me panic.”

She had repeatedly told the attacker to stop with his advances after he made a number of comments about her.

“He started making comments about me, touching my legs and putting his hands on me. Then gradually he started putting his hands up my skirt, touching my chest and I kept telling him to stop,” she said.

“I wanted to leave but I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I felt powerless, like I was stuck.”

The victim’s family were adamant that the attacker should not be allowed to return to the school.

“I think the day he was found guilty he should have been excluded,” her mother told the BBC.

“He should not be allowed near my daughter or any woman right now. I worry every single day, even now. I don’t feel the boy was adequately punished at all.”

The school, which has not been identified for legal reasons, has said it followed all procedures correctly.