Steven Hardie, aged 65, of Woodsgate Park, Bexhill, East Sussex, has been convicted of multiple CSA offences and two counts of rape against a former pupil at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.
The court heard that Hardie was employed as a science teacher at Bexhill High School between 1991 and 2007.
Hardie was dismissed from his teaching post in 2007 after police issued him a formal caution for grooming a female pupil.
The current conviction relates to an entirely separate victim who was targeted by Hardie during his time at the school.
The criminal investigation commenced in 2021 when Sussex Police received intelligence indicating that Hardie had groomed and sexually assaulted pupils while working as a teacher.
Detectives executed warrants to seize Hardie’s electronic devices, with subsequent forensic analysis uncovering sexual messages sent between Hardie and the victim during his employment.
Safeguarding officers contacted the victim, now a woman in her 30s, who disclosed that Hardie began subjecting her to sexual abuse when she was a 15-year-old pupil.
The victim also reported that Hardie raped her on two separate occasions following her departure from the school.
Hardie was arrested and formally charged with nine sexual offences, entering not guilty pleas to all counts on the indictment.
Following a jury trial at Lewes Crown Court, Hardie was convicted of:
- Two counts of rape
- Four counts of indecent assault
- Two counts of indecency with a child
The jury acquitted Hardie of one remaining count of indecency with a child.
The presiding judge remanded Hardie in custody to appear back at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on Monday, 26 October 2026.
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