A YOUNG maths teacher kissed and shared her bed with a 15-year-old girl pupil after they fell in love, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Clare Kenney, 28, told police that they did not have sex - but a top judge said he believed matters would have progressed.

"I have no doubt if it had not been nipped in the bud it would have led to more,” said Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool.

"You were, I am sure, a good maths teacher and you have thrown away the opportunity of a teaching career as a result of your pursuit of a 15-year-old girl."

He continued: "You well knew when you embarked upon the first stages of this out of school relationship that it was wrong.

"Every time you had her in your home you knew that you were on the wrong side of the line.

"Every time you had her in your home you had an opportunity to draw back but you didn't."

The court heard that their relationship developed after she began giving the girl extra maths tuition for her GCSEs at a Wirral secondary school.

Rob Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said the matter came to light when another pupil at the school complained to the school that Kenney was romantically involved with the girl.

The school notified social services who alerted the police.

The girl became upset when social services spoke to her and admitted they had been in a relationship.

She expressed concern about the impact on Kenney's career.

When interviewed Kenney said that after she started giving the girl extra tuition they had Facebook Messenger contact which became more personal.

She began meeting her after school as a friend as she was having a difficult time having had split with her fiancé.

She said she had been on day trips with her and she had come to her house, stayed overnight and slept in her bed.

She said she treated her like a girlfriend but it was more affectionate than sexual.

Mr Wyn Jones said that Kenney said they "loved each other."

"She admitted they had kissed once or twice but no other sexual contact and Kenney told her she would have to wait until she was 18.”

The girl refused to be video interviewed by police and did not make a victim impact statement.

Kenney, of Claremount Road, Wallasey pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

Kevin Batch, defending, said that blonde-haired Kenney had been sacked and will not be be able to work in the teaching profession again.

He added: "She has also lost her good character.

"She is deeply remorseful and ashamed by what has happened at a very difficult time in her life.

"What started as solace, comfort or friendship became her stepping over the line."

Judge Goldstone told Kenney: "Because the sexual side of your relationship had barely begun I can deal with you today in a way that does not result in the imposition of imprisonment."

He imposed a two-year community order with up to 50 days rehabilitation activities, 150 hours unpaid work and ordered her to pay £600 prosecution costs.

He also imposed a curfew with an electronic tag for two months between 7-7 am.

He told the defendant that the curfew "is meant to punish you to make a dent in your enjoyment of the summer.

"If you get fed up looking at your own four walls just remember that this did not have to go very much further before you would have been staring at four different less welcoming walls."