Helen Goddard (left) was a successful music teacher with a bright career in front of her. At 26, she was popular with her students at the prestigious City of London School for Girls, who coined the name The Jazzy Lady for the trumpet instructor. A talented musician in her own right, Helen played the trumpet in an under-18s orchestra and the Hampshire County Youth Band in her teens. She performed for the Queen at the Albert Hall as well as performing at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games when she was just 17.

So why did she throw is all away by having a relationship with one of her students? As far as Helen is concerned she fell in love and couldn’t help herself. Her 15 year-old girlfriend wants to continue the relationship, despite Helen looking at a custodial sentence and a lifetime on the sex offenders register.

So, is this a case of lovers fighting against the system or is it the unforgivable exploitation of a minor by someone who should’ve known better?

Lesbian and gay forums are divided about the romance, with some cheering on the couple and others crying paedophilia. The most surprising reaction has been from the mainstream press.

The fifth estate seems to need to understand “A devout Christian with a glittering career ahead, so why did Helen Goddard throw it away with a lesbian affair with a pupil?” as the Daily Mail put it.

I have a couple of problems with the reaction to this story. First, she’s 15. Remember when you were 15? Remember how mature you felt, how you thought adults were just so jaded and boring? Remember how self-obsessed you were? Then, as the years go by, you mature and learn all of the life lessons which help you along the way and, hopefully, turn you into a caring adult.

This young woman is 15 so she knew no better. Most of us had fantasies about teachers when we were that age but now know that it not happening was the right thing.

Helen Goddard is 26. She knew better. She may have fallen in love, I’m not saying that she didn’t, but she should have known to leave it. If she loved her she would have known that it was for the best. Ok that easy for me to say, but when you’re in a tailspin in love, you do stupid things. Having a relationship with a student isn’t stupid; it’s irresponsible and potentially harmful.

The newspapers usually enjoy waving around the flag of morality when a story such as this comes up. They have, and I use The Daily Mail as the perfect example, been sympathetic to Helen and her lover. Why?

Could it be because Helen Goddard is middle-class, feminine and attractive? Before you poo-poo me, imagine if this scenario was between a 15 year-old girl and the butchest dyke you can imagine. Alternatively, think about the case where the teacher is male. These imaginary teachers would be hounded, the headlines would be cruel and not an ounce of sympathy would come from any corner.

Feminine, middle-class women aren’t seen as sexually predatory people. Lesbian sex with one is probably all about hugging and going to polo games, isn’t it? The concept of a person like Helen Goddard being the instigator in this relationship and not the victim, as all good middle-class, feminine women are, has Fleet Street scratching its collective head.

In this case, you have two lonely people who met and made life a bit shinier for one another. Helen Goddard should never have allowed a relationship to happen; no teacher should. Over the years though, teachers have, and they probably will again. They may be male, female, gay, straight, white or of colour. Depending on their noticeable difference the press will treat the same cases completely differently. Helen Goddard may have  a tough life ahead of her, but it won’t come from the press.

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