A WOMAN whose life was torn apart by a “highly controlling and narcissistic” former teacher has been praised by a judge who listened as the devastating impact of the crimes against her were laid bare.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how 39-year-old Curtis Clarke filmed the pair’s sexual encounters on his phone without her knowledge or consent.

When she later tried to block all contact with Clarke, he sought to humiliate her by posting intimate images of her — taken from one of the secret videos — on posters in well populated public places.

These were a Carlisle pub toilet wall days before Christmas and at a bus stop on a busy city route. Her name, address and phone number were revealed and there were grotesque descriptions of her which, said a prosecutor, amounted to “an apparent advertisement for sexual favours”.

Clarke admitted offences of disclosing private sexual images. He was also convicted by jurors, unanimously after a crown court trial, of four voyeurism charges which he had denied.

Before Clarke was handed an immediate 29-month jail term, Judge Nicholas Barker read a powerful impact statement provided by the woman, who was left feeling “crushed inside”.

Curtis ClarkeCurtis Clarke (Image: Newsquest)

“It perfectly conveys the overwhelming damage that calculatedly wicked acts such as this can do,” said prosecutor Tim Evans of the statement.

The woman had stated: “Whilst I should have been getting ready to celebrate Christmas with my family, I started receiving harassing phone calls to my mobile. This alone filled me with a dread that to do this day I cannot explain.

“Expecting that my number had been written on a wall somewhere, nothing could have prepared me for the image I’d (been sent by) a total stranger which depicted me in a provocative manner, subtitled with vile and degrading sexualised language, my full name, address, and phone number.

“Within these posters Mr Clarke used humiliating and degrading language about my body and sexuality. The wording on the poster has embedded a lot of trauma, shame and embarrassment within me. And still to this day I feel the effects of this.“

The woman had since deleted social media accounts, changed her phone number and even her name.

“One thing that breaks my heart is knowing that, sadly somewhere, these images still exist due to the nature of our modern digital world. The posters were removed and given to the police, but I know that digital copies continued after this and will for some time,” she added.

Judge Barker at Carlisle Crown Court Judge Barker at Carlisle Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Judge Barker found Clarke, previously of Carlisle and now of Leighton Buzzard, to be a “self-serving, highly controlling narcissist”.

“It is clear to me that you view others to be exploited for your own ends,” the judge told Clarke. “If I had any doubt about this, I need only repeat the observation of the author of the (probation service) pre-sentence report.”

They had stated: “It is apparent throughout interview Mr Clarke’s main concern is for the impact upon himself. He minimised his offending and distorted the details of his actions throughout the interview, emphasising the stress and unhappiness that he himself has suffered.”

Clarke had further taken “little genuine ownership of his behaviour and demonstrated minimal concern for the victim and the significant impact it has had in her life and emotional well-being.”

Judge Barker said to Clarke: “This is in stark contrast to your victim in this case, whose conduct at all times has been beyond reproach. She has shown herself to be a kind and measured woman whose life has been torn apart by your actions.

“I note that all of the character references which have been written on your behalf, not one references the harm you have caused her.”

Clarke had been dismissed as a teacher. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and will be reporting to barring agency staff who will rule on whether he can ever work with children and vulnerable adults in the future.