A British teacher at a private school in Almeria has been sacked and arrested. He is currently being held at Almeria’s provincial prison El Acebuche.

A spokesman for the Guardia Civil in Almeria confirmed that a 39-year-old teacher in Roquetas de Mar had been held on suspicion of sexually abusing a student.

He is accused of sexually abusing a 15 year old girl and, under Spanish law, faces six years in jail. The nine month affair, which reportedly began when the child was only 14 years old, was reported to the authorities by the child’s mother.

Carl Troiano, 39, was employed at St George’s British School of Almeria in Roquetas del Mar until 14 November 2016 when Headmaster, Neil Morris, told parent that Triano “ceased working at the school”.

In 2015, the age of consent in Spain was raised from 13 to 16, bringing it into line with several other European countries.

In 2010 Troiano was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student at Bankfield High School near Warrington but was later cleared following insufficient evidence by a jury of seven women and five men of three charges of enticing sexual activity with a student following a four-day trial at the Warrington Crown Court.