South Yorkshire teacher who received explicit images from ex-pupil is spared a ban

Andrew Roberts was teaching at a school in Doncaster when he swapped messages with the former student, which included X-rated photos of her.

But he said he had not asked her to send any images and had stopped contact with her as soon as he learned she was an ex-pupil at the school, which cannot be named.

Mr Roberts, who resigned from the school in February 2016 after the allegations came to light, admitted exchanging messages with the former student and receiving explicit images which he failed to report to the school.

But he denied sending naked images of himself or giving her his mobile number, which he said she later told him she had got from a friend.

Both those allegations were found unproven by a misconduct panel of the National College for Teaching & Leadership.

The disciplinary panel found his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

By failing to report the incident, it said, he had left the 'potentially vulnerable pupil exposed to further risk'.

However, the panel gave him credit for immediately ceasing contact with the student upon learning she had been a pupil at the school, and for recognising his failings in not reporting the matter to the school.

In a report published yesterday, it said he had a 'valuable contribution' to make as a teacher and said banning him from the profession would not be 'proportionate and appropriate' in this case.

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