Girl sexually abused by teacher at his house, library and classroom cupboard

A teacher has been jailed for sexually abusing a pupil at school and at his home. Gary Day-Davies, 55, of Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault by touching of a child.

The non-recent offences occurred between 2006 and 2009 when the victim was a pupil at a school in Salford where Day-Davies taught. Some of the abuse happened at the school, including in a classroom store cupboard, a senior officer at Greater Manchester Police said. The victim was also abused at Day-Davies’ home after he invited her to his house for additional tuition.

Police said Day-Davies then plied the survivor with drugs and alcohol and sexually abused her.

An investigation was launched after the victim came forward to police in 2022.

Day-Davies denied the offences and at trial, said the charges came as the survivor “must have just held a bit of a grudge” against him.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “Since receiving the news of the guilty verdicts, I feel like an enormous weight was lifted off my shoulders. The emotional trauma bond that I have endured for the last 20 years has finally severed.

“I can eventually breathe and think for myself without constant fear of the consequences. I finally have justice – this is justice not for me as a child but now as an adult too.”

Inspector Dave Ogden, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Day-Davies took advantage of the young age of the survivor to invite her to his home and sexually abuse her. He further sexually abused the survivor in the library and store cupboard in a classroom.

“Time is no barrier when it comes to being sexually abused – no matter how long ago it was, or how old you were at the time, we will listen to you.

"We will support you, investigate, and act robustly against perpetrators. We will take your allegations seriously and treat you with dignity and respect.”

Day-Davies was jailed for 15 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday.