A 40-year-old school teacher from Assen has been jailed for 30 months, 10 suspended, for the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old pupil.

In addition, judges found the teacher from the city’s Terra College guilty of digital grooming and making child pornography. The man was the girl’s school mentor.

He has also been banned from teaching for five years and must undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment.

The man had originally faced charges of rape but the public prosecutor told the court in Groningen that there was no question of him using violence and that his victim did not feel threatened.

The abuse took place between June and the end of August last year and came to light after the girl’s parents found messages on her phone.

Asked in court why he had abused the girl, the man said: ‘That is a very difficult question to answer. I think it dreadful that things went further in the end. I am very, very ashamed.’