A MUSIC teacher who groomed a pupil at a secondary school has been jailed for 14 months.

Lloyd Garrett, 32, embarked on an ‘unprofessional and wholly inappropriate relationship’ with the girl, swapping sexual text messages and kissing her in his car when he gave her a lift home from drama rehearsals.

Garrett, of Liverpool Walk, Buckshaw Village, even begged the youngster to go on a school trip he was planning to New York – so they could have sex.

The then head of creative arts at Garstang Community Academy told her: “Better get saving because even if this is the only time we can ever properly get Babe, it would be like heaven.”

Garrett and the pupil became close when they were working on a school production of Grease together, Preston Crown Court heard.

At first their relationship was platonic but over time, Garrett told the teenager he had developed feelings for her and the texts turned sexual.

Father-of-two Garrett told the youngster to download an app to encrypt their messages, so they could continue their relationship undetected.

He encouraged the teenager to send naked selfies and sent her pictures of his penis.

But he was caught when a friend of his victim saw the messages on her mobile and told another teacher at the school.

When confronted by his colleague, Garrett said: “It’s game over” and the police were informed.

Following his arrest, Garrett said he had fallen in love with the schoolgirl when he was under stress managing the busy music department.

He said he had not been able to turn to his wife – who stands by him – and had turned to the youngster for support.

He pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images and sexual activity with a child, and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Judge Jacqueline Beech, said: “Such conduct between teachers and children will not be tolerated by society.”

Joanna Rodrikis, defending, told the court the sex talk was “pure fantasy” and no trip to New York was ever booked or paid for. She said her client was a dedicated teacher who worked long hours putting on shows and productions.

In a victim statement, the girl’s mother said her daughter had always been a happy, carefree, child, but after the offences came to light she had become withdrawn and had been prescribed medication for anxiety.

Garrett was dismissed from his role at the school and has been unemployed, apart from a few private piano bookings, since his arrest.

Judge Beech said: “You were a teacher with high standards but you did not demonstrate those standards when you embarked on a relationship with one of your pupils.

“You were in a position of trust and you encouraged this relationship to develop.”