A FORMER friend has spoken out in defence of shamed school teacher William Gibson.

Gibson, 59, was convicted in 1980 for indecent assault of a child, but later worked at schools in County Durham and South Tyneside.

He was 33 when he started dating a 15-year-old student from the Sunderland comprehensive school where he was teaching.

He was caught when he sent roses to her house and her parents became suspicious.

His case has heaped pressure on Education Secretary Ruth Kelly over who decides whether a teacher with a sex conviction should be allowed to continue working with children.

Now a former friend has spoken out in his defence.

The 41-year-old, who says she was once the best friend of the pupil with whom Gibson had an affair, described how she used to pass notes between the two lovers.

Now a teacher herself, she defended the 59-year-old, saying he had been unfairly represented as a child abuser.

She said: "The man I am hearing about is not the man I knew. He was a kind and excellent teacher.''

Gibson and her friend were very much in love and there was nothing sordid in their relationship, she said.

"After all, they were married for 19 years and had three children.''

She added: "He used to give me letters to pass on to her and I would do it, knowing how much they cared for each other.''

The woman admitted she had now lost touch with her schoolfriend and added: "They were so incredibly happy. They had a beautiful relationship which lasted much longer than many people's relationships.

"It's a real shame what has happened and what he's been turned into.

"That man is unrecognisable to me,'' she said. "I felt I needed to stand up for him because no body else is. This was a genuine relationship between a couple very much in love.''