A teacher who began courting his student when she was 13 and went on to have a five-year sexual relationship with her was sentenced to 41/2 years' jail yesterday.

He had pleaded guilty to six of 40 charges - two each of sex with a girl under 16, committing an obscene act with a child, and insulting the modesty of a female.

The 42-year-old, a divorced father of two, became close to the girl when he gave her and a few others free tuition in history in 2003. Then 30, he began to date her during the mid-year holidays and enlisted her help to mark papers.

He had sex with her for the first time in 2003, the year her father died, and told her that he loved her. He paid for all her expenses and bought her whatever she wanted.

He continued to tutor her at her home and met her mother, who did not know of their relationship. She even rented a room to him in 2004 as he had no place to stay.

Between 2003 and 2007, he and the girl had numerous sexual encounters in rented cars, hotel rooms and in her own home.

She tried to break off with him in 2006 but he refused and increased his interference in her social life.

Their relationship ended in 2008. Despite this, he continued to live at the flat until mid-2013.

The victim reported him to the police in August 2013 after discovering that he possessed video recordings of her sexual encounters with him and of her showering.

The Education Ministry said last night that the teacher was promptly suspended from duties after the case was reported to the ministry. "We do not tolerate educators who misconduct themselves. Educators are expected to uphold the highest professional standards," it said.