THE CAREER of a Hampshire teacher was today in ruins after an inappropriate relationship with a pupil, a court heard.

Nigel Williams, 29, admitted striking up a close friendship with a teenager at the school in south-east Hamsphire where he worked.

At Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday Williams admitted meeting the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, out of school hours.

The court heard how Williams took the 14-year-old out on up to five occasions without the consent of her parents between June and September last year.

Prosecuting Robert Grey said: "The charge relates to this man who was a teacher and his relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time of the offence.

"What happened was that the complainant's father found a number of e-mails sent by Mr Williams to his daughter. The content of them made her father very concerned about the relationship they had and he reported the matter to the police."

Williams had been due to stand trial after pleading not guilty to an offence under the sexual offences amendment act and denying a second charge of taking a child from the custody of her lawful guardians without their consent.

But he decided to enter a guilty plea to the second charge at the last moment yesterday, which was accepted by the prosecution.

Mr Grey said: "We do not think it would be in the public interest to pursue the first charge given the guilty plea entered today." He added that the first charge would remain on Williams' file.

The 29-year-old had only been at the school for five months before he began taking the teenager out. As a result of the allegations his two-term contract was not renewed.

The conviction means Williams will never again be allowed to teach children or be in a position of responsibility of young people.

A spokeswoman from Hampshire County Council, the local education authority, said: "In cases such as this the LEA is under a statutory requirement to report the name of the teacher to the misconduct unit of the Department for Education and Skills. The name is then added to a list which prevents any future employment with children."

At the court hearing Williams, of Kensington Road, Chichester, was also told he faced a prison sentence for his misconduct.

Judge Jane Bonvin said: "He (Williams) should be under no illusion of the ultimate punishment that could be handed down.

"An offence of this nature usually attracts a custodial sentence and it would be in a very exceptional situation to do otherwise."

The case was adjourned for sentencing on July 11.