A FORMER school chaplain who carried out a sex act on a former pupil against his will has been locked up for 12 months.

Robert Casey, 50, had built up a close friendship with the teenager and often invited him to stay round his house, Derby Crown Court heard.

On July 28 last year, the 18-year-old was asleep and woke to find Casey giving him oral sex.

Casey, of Ladywood Road, Ilkeston, initially denied the allegation but changed his plea on the morning his trial was due to get start on April 4.

Until last year, the chaplain worked at St John Houghton Catholic School, in Kirk Hallam, but was suspended from duties when the allegations first emerged.

Prosecutor Jeremy Janes told the hearing Casey had built up a close bond with the teenager and comforted him when his brother was involved in a serious car accident.

Casey even paid for the teenager's school trips while he was a pupil, Mr Janes said.

He went on the say that following the incident, Casey sent a text message to the teenager asking him not to go to the police.

But the teenager did, and in a statement supplied to the court, the victim said he has been "unable to sleep properly" since.

He said: "I can't stop thinking about what happened. I'm unable to concentrate and as a result I'm unable to hold down a job.

"I was doing well at college but I've been unable to concentrate during lessons and on coursework so I've had to drop out.

"I'm mentally scared - I can't believe Rob could do this to me."

Alwyn Jones, in mitigation, asked the judge to give Casey credit for his guilty plea.

He said his client was "at a loss" to explain what was "a moment of madness".

Character references described Casey as "inspirational, kind and considerate" and Mr Jones said: "But all that has now gone and he finds that very difficult to deal with."

Recorder Paul Mann, QC, told Casey: "This is the most appalling breach of trust because your victim regarded you in the same light."

Casey was ordered to sign the sex offender's register.