Teen abuse house master loses appeal

Ryan Deneven-Lewis avoided prison in 2009 when he was put on probation for sex offences against two teenagers at St Mary’s Music School in Grosvenor Crescent.

But the 31-year-old was jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court in London in December after another girl came forward and he admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child.

The disgraced former schoolmaster, who now lives in London, asked appeal judges for a reduction in his sentence.

But Lord Justice Pitchford, Mrs Justice Sharp and Sir Geoffrey Grigson, sitting at London’s Court of Appeal yesterday, rejected his case.

The court heard Deneven-Lewis had twice formed sexual relationships with teenagers, aged 15 and 16, while working at the Edinburgh school.

At the time, he admitted a drunken sexual liaison with a third girl, aged 14, but she refused to make a complaint.

Three years later, after making “good progress” on probation, Deneven-Lewis was arrested over offences against the third girl and later convicted.