Deborah Franklin, 65, was convicted on eight counts of indecency at St Albans Crown Court for sexual conduct with a boy she tutored.
The former private tutor, who was married and in her 30s when the alleged incidents occurred, had a long‑standing relationship with a pupil aged nine to twelve during the 1990s.
Prosecutors described repeated sexual activity, including an encounter in the boy’s garage and an event at Franklin’s home where the boy was blindfolded, tied to a bed, and subjected to tickling.
Family members testified that the boy’s sister found Franklin charismatic and that the family trusted her to be in the child’s bedroom during tutoring sessions; she also discussed drugs, cigarettes and sex with the boy.
In 2024, the boy, now in his 40s, reported the incidents to police and the case proceeded to trial. The defense argued that Franklin’s relationship with the child was proper and that such interactions were normal for teachers.
During the trial, Franklin denied the allegations and claimed no memory of the events, while prosecutors maintained that the boy’s accounts were consistent over many years.
Judge Kamran Choudhry warned of a high possibility of imprisonment at sentencing, noting the boy’s repeated recounting of the allegations.
Following the charge, Franklin was suspended from her teaching position, remanded into custody, and her sentencing is set for October 1.
