A teacher who had sex with a 14-year-old schoolgirl in his car after grooming her on Instagram, has been jailed for five years.

James Auchterlonie exchanged messages with the teen before he picked her up and drove her to a secluded spot and clambered onto the back seat to molest her despite her repeated pleas to stop.

He then told her it was his “turn” and they had sex.

After being dropped off back at home by Auchterlonie, the girl became upset and told her mother what had happened and she contacted police.

Before they met in person, the 33-year-old former primary school worker had joked “I’m getting over the fact it’s illegal” and “seriously makes me a bad person if I end up f***ing a 14-year-old”.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim appeared “older and confident” but was a vulnerable girl who has been left traumatised by the illicit relationship.

She said in an impact statement: “Since this has happened I constantly feel dirty. My ability to feel clean has gone and I want to scrub my skin.”

The teen said she now feels “sick to the stomach” around men and added: “I feel like you targeted me for your own sexual fulfilment.”

The court was told how Auchterlonie would complement her during online chats to “reel” the girl in.

The victim’s mother said her daughter has been “forever changed” by what happened and added that the role of a teacher should be to protect children.

She said: “With sheer audacity you came and took her from her home, the one place she was safe.

“You knew it was illegal and she was underage and that turned you on. That was my child, my baby you were leering over and planning to abuse.

“She will not be your victim but a survivor.”

Auchterlonie, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, admitted sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming and three charges of sexual activity with a child.

Judge Gavin Doig said he must abide by a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for life.

Judge Doig said Auchterlonie had been employed as a primary school teacher but was not in that job at the time and the victim in this case was not and had never been his pupil.

The judge told him: “She was a child, you were a man in your 30s who had extensive experience in education.

“As you know, this whole episode was a disgrace and you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

“You knew it was wrong and it didn’t stop you.”

Joe Culley, mitigating, said Auchterlonie took full responsibility for what happened and expressed “genuine remorse”, adding he hoped his victim could “move on” and have a fulfilling life.