COLLEGE tutor and rugby coach Isiah Young has been sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work for sexually touching two teenage pupils.

The 34-year-old was also given a 12-month community order and ordered to sign the sex offender register for the next five years.

But during the sentencing today, Gloucester Crown Court was told that Young faces a far harsher penalty next week.

He is due to attend a disciplinary meeting at the college where he works on Thursday and is expected to be dismissed, the court heard.

Young, a former Cirencester RFC coach, is also awaiting a decision from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on his future within the sport.

He has been a leading figure in the rugby world in Gloucestershire in recent years, playing for clubs including Cinderford and Cirencester, and coaching the county under-18 squad.

Young, of Redding Park in Cheltenham, was convicted by a jury last month of four charges of having sexual activity with two 17-year-old girls while in a position of trust as a teacher.

One of the girls told how Young put his hand under her top and stroked her back, while the other said he squeezed her bottom and kissed her.

Today the court was told he still maintains his innocence of the offences.

His lawyer, Mark Smith, said the offences did not pass the imprisonment threshold and asked the court to follow a pre-sentence report recommendation for a community order.

Mr Smith said: "He is a man of previous good character. He maintains his innocence of these matters so there is nothing I can say about the offences themselves.

"He is going to have a disciplinary meeting next Thursday at the college and he anticipates that will result in him being dismissed.

"He is making efforts to rehabilitate himself with the RFU, rugby being the great passion in his life.

"I cannot give you any information about how he is going to spend the rest of his life in terms of his employment."

Judge Euan Ambrose told Young: "You have been a teacher for a number of years. As became quite clear during the trial you were a well liked and well respected teacher.

"But in October and November 2013 you behaved in a way that was wholly inappropriate towards two female students and that has brought you here.

"Following the trial, which you contested in the face of very strong prosecution evidence, you were convicted.

"On October 24 you were with one of the girls in a classroom and you embraced her. You put your hand up underneath her top and stroked her back. She was shocked by what you had done and she emailed you the following day to warn you off and to tell you in stark terms that it was not acceptable.

"You must have known that, but for whatever reason you ignored that warning. Although you didn't repeat your behaviour towards her you did repeat it with another student.

"On November 5 you were walking out of a classroom and a student was ahead of you. You touched and squeezed her bottom.

"Three days after that you were alone in a classroom with her. You embraced her. You held her tight and you squeezed her bottom.

"And a few days later you were again alone with her and you embraced her, squeezed her bottom and kissed her.

"The offences were upsetting for them because they looked up to you and trusted you.

"The greatest punishment in this case will undoubtedly be the loss of your teaching career."