IN his own words, it was "stupid, pointless, embarrassing" and it was a mistake which could ultimately cost him his career.

Bolton history teacher Lee Savage had sex with a schoolgirl a day after meeting her at a student trade fair in March.

The head of history at Sharples School got chatting to the 17-year-old at the Young Enterprise convention on the Isle of Wight during a night out and hours later, they ended up in bed together.

The 31-year-old denied raping and indecently assaulting the teenager throughout the trial at Winchester Crown Court.

But he admitted he was "stupid" to risk his career and marriage.

Mr Savage told the jury he first noticed the girl when they boarded the bus in Bolton to travel to the Haven Holiday Camp.

The pair began talking in a bar after a presentation on the final night of the convention.

Mr Savage claimed she had been constantly looking at him and went to sit near him.

He admitted he thought she was attractive but the amount of alcohol he consumed had made him feel more attracted to her.

They met outside the bar and walked hand in hand to a chalet.

Mr Savage claimed the girl tried several doors until she found one empty and they went inside.

They started kissing, he removed the girl's clothing and one thing led to another.

Mr Savage told the jury they were disturbed when someone started shouting the teenager's name outside.

A security guard at the holiday camp told the court he had seen the pair kissing and cuddling minutes before the alleged attack.

When they noticed him, the two jumped apart and started giggling, according to Steve Carpenter.

The schoolgirl virgin alleged that Mr Savage had offered to walk her home from the pub but instead took her to an empty chalet and raped her.

During the evening, she had drunk two Bacardi and cokes, an orange and vodka and two bottles of Smirnoff Ice.

At about 1am, the teenager claimed she went to sit on a chair near to Mr Savage and after a brief conversation, she left and he followed her.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, she wept as she told the court how he had insisted on walking her back to her caravan and led her across a grassy bank to the chalet.

The schoolgirl claimed he pulled her inside onto the bed and she desperately tried to stop him but he carried on and sniggered when she said he would lose his job.

The teenager claimed Mr Savage forced her to perform a sex act and have sex with him in an ordeal which lasted 20 minutes.

It only ended when concerned friends came looking for her, she said.

The court heard a police doctor examined her and found bruising on her arms.

It was only the next day when the police were called and the girl claimed she had been raped that the passionate encounter turned into the start of an eight month nightmare.

The event organiser told Mr Savage an allegation had been made against him and he was later arrested. When interviewed, the teacher admitted having sex with the girl but said she had consented.