A teacher has been banned from class for at least 10 years after behaving inappropriately with three students, including carrying a photo of a girl in his phone case.
Paul Richardson, 29, told the girl known as Pupil B, “You’re so fat, it’s a good job you’re beautiful,” or words to that effect.
The cover supervisor at Woodham Academy in County Durham had another student sit on his shoulders during a gym session and kiss and hug a third girl he’d invited to his home.
A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing last month was told that Mr Richardson, who was not represented and did not attend, did not dispute any of the allegations.
He admitted to letting student A sit on his shoulders – the girl later said she didn’t know why, and felt unhappy that it had happened.
He also noted “nice see-through leggings you have there,” or words to that effect, about her, the hearing was told.
On another occasion, while out for a walk, he held the hand of a girl known as Student C and kissed her on the lips.
Mr. Richardson also kissed and hugged her when she got upset at his house – and admitted he gave her a house key.
The teacher also admitted to sending WhatsApp messages to student C saying that he loved her.
During a police interrogation, he stated: “There was never anything sexual, more of a friendship, like I love you, let me help you with something like that.”
He also told police, warned after a complaint to the school in Newton Aycliffe, that he had told pupil C that they could get married in the future.
The mixed school is for students aged 11 to 16.
The TRA panel found that his behavior was sexually motivated and that he had failed to maintain a professional student-teacher relationship, showed no remorse and lacked understanding of the impact of his behavior.
Mr. Richardson had indicated that he had no intention of returning to the profession, but had been banned from teaching with a minimum revision period of 10 years.
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