A school worker who the Metropolitan Police said betrayed his position of trust to sexually abuse two girls has been jailed.

In January 2015, Stephen Thomas began a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl from Hounslow, the police said.

An investigation was launched by police after the father of the girl became suspicious of sexual activity and contacted the force after seeing Thomas' messages on his daughter's Facebook account.

Five months later, on June 8, the father called the police after catching Thomas sexually assaulting his daughter.

On the same day, Thomas was arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.

During the investigation, it was reported that Thomas had been involved in a sexual relationship with a second victim back in the 2000s, a 15-year-old girl, when she was a pupil at the Hounslow school he was working at.

According to police, he was no longer working at the school in 2015 when he started abusing the 13-year-old victim.

Following a two week trial at Isleworth Crown Court, Thomas of Sedgecombe Avenue in Kenton, was found guilty on January 20 of four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of rape of a female under the age of 16 and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

On Monday April 10, the 30-year-old was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court, to 17 years in prison.

Detective constable Phil Cotter from the Met Police said: "These offences committed by Thomas are of an extremely serious nature and have had a significant impact on the lives of the victims and their family.

"He committed these offences whilst in a position of trust and manipulated the victims to satisfy his own means."

On April 22 2016, Thomas was charged with various sexual offences including two counts of sexual activity with a child in relation to the 13-year-old and two counts of sexual activity with a child in relation to the 15-year-old.

Thomas was also charged with one count of rape between May 1 2015 and June 8 2015 in relation to the 13-year-old and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Detective constable Phil Cotter added: "I hope the sentence gives the victims and their family some sort of closure for what has been a horrendous ordeal."

A spokesman from children's charity, NSPCC said: “Thomas has shown himself to be a danger to children and we hope he receives rehabilitation while in prison to minimise the threat he poses on his release.

“His actions will have had a hugely damaging effect on his young victims and we hope they are receiving the support they need to recover.

“To educate children about abuse before it starts, NSPCC volunteers deliver hundreds of assemblies and workshops to children so they can spot the signs of abuse and know who to go to for help.

“Last year we spoke to 1,419 children in 13 schools in Hounslow.”

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