Ballet Teacher Gets No Jail in Abduction Case - Updated

(Preston, England) Yesterday, 27-year-old ballet teacher Sarah Pirie was given a suspended 35-week jail sentence for her conviction on a charge of child abduction.

The 15-year-old victim, Reece Washington, who waived anonymity, said he and Pirie had sex in her car. Pirie denies it.

Judge Michael Byrne told Pirie: ‘Shortly after starting this job you met a student who was gifted but emotionally vulnerable.

‘You knew he was in foster care. He was clearly vulnerable and you should have noticed this.

‘You used your professional status for some kind of attention which went beyond the proper boundaries of your relationship.’

Pirie's conviction carries with it a permanent ban on working with children. (h/t JR)

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Ballet Teacher Abducts Boy
[Previous 11/29/10 post]
(Preston, England) A 27-year-old ballet teacher, Sarah Pirie, pleaded guilty today in Preston Crown Court to the abduction of a 15-year-old boy.

Pirie, whose current address is Marner, Luxembourg, had originally also been charged with five counts of sexual activity with the same boy between March and June of last year.

Pirie had pleaded not guilty to all charges and was due to undergo a three week trial starting today.

But after discussions between prosecution and defence barristers, only the single charge of child abduction was put to the defendant, to which she pleaded guilty.

The five charges of sexual activity with the youngster were not put to the defendant and she will not now face prosecution on those counts.

Pirie is free on bail until sentencing on January 7.