Driving teacher spared jail for touching

IPSWICH, England, July 19 (UPI) -- An English driving instructor was spared jail for sexually harassing two teenagers by a judge who said he had been punished by losing his job and partner.

David Austin of Chedburgh was convicted last month in Ipswich Crown Court of holding his cell phone against a 17-year-old's breasts while telling her they would make a good phone holder and of fiddling with the button on another 17-year-old's blouse. He was sentenced this week to community service and 12 months supervised release, The Daily Mail reported.

Judge John Holt told Austin he was impressed by testimony from other former students of his courteous behavior toward them.

"It is a tragedy that on these two occasions, you allowed yourself to behave in the way you did," the judge said. "As a result you have lost your partner, job and house. Because of the loss of your job you have considerable debts so you have been punished significantly."