The physics mistress accused of ‘mile-high’ sex with 6th-former
But her brother insists: Nothing happened on jet
THIS is the physics teacher banned from the classroom for having sex with a pupil in an aeroplane toilet.
Eleanor Wilson was struck off after a disciplinary panel heard that she had intercourse with the sixth-former on the flight home following a school trip to the Large Hadron Collider.
Miss Wilson, who denies sexual activity took place, did not attend the two-day disciplinary hearing earlier this month at which she was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and bringing the teaching profession into disrepute.
It emerged yesterday that the 28-year-old has been investigated by police.
But her brother defended her, claiming she had been the victim of false claims by pupils. Jethro Wilson said: ‘Nothing happened on the plane or anywhere else. She has been humiliated.’
The teacher, from South Gloucestershire, had a boyfriend at the time and would not have put her career at risk, he said.
Miss Wilson was head of Key Stage 4 at the school, an academy in Bristol, when the incident occurred. The National College for Teaching and Leadership panel hearing, at which she was not represented, was told that she became close to the sixth-former during a trip in summer 2015 to the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva.
The sixth-former, referred to only as Pupil A, said that on the flight home he drank about five 250ml bottles of wine and that Miss Wilson was also intoxicated.
He entered the lavatory with Miss Wilson and they had unprotected sex. She continued their relationship, texting and meeting for drinks, despite gossip at the school, he said. In September 2015 the headmaster heard rumours about the relationship but Miss Wilson denied improper behaviour.
Seven months later another pupil sent Miss Wilson emails in which he threatened to reveal the tryst with Pupil A unless she had sex with him.
These emails were reported to the school and the police. The school, which was not
‘Shocking abuse of a position of trust’
named, began an investigation and Miss Wilson was dismissed in May 2016. The panel, which wrote to and emailed Miss Wilson but received no response, heard that she denied the pair kissed or had sex, claiming they simply ‘hugged on occasion’.
She admitted during the school’s investigation that the pair had met and exchanged text messages but denied that they had drunk alcohol.
But the panel concluded the boy was a ‘credible, reliable witness’.
Chairman Polly O’Malley said: ‘There was evidence that the teacher’s actions were deliberate and continued for a significant length of time despite her understanding that her behaviour was inappropriate.
‘ These behaviours include serious dishonesty and serious sexual misconduct. Additionally the panel has found that Miss Wilson encouraged Pupil A to hide their relationship and lied about it herself when an investigation into the allegations was undertaken by the school.’
Mr Wilson, of Keighley, West Yorkshire, said of his sister: ‘The panel have only taken it from what the lad has said. A student can easily say one thing that has ruined a teacher’s career. It is just young lads being lads really. The police haven’t prosecuted her because she hasn’t done anything wrong. Eleanor has moved on with her life. She has a new boyfriend and at the moment she is on Dartmoor training with the Royal Naval Reserve.’
He spoke out as pictures emerged on social media of Miss Wilson enjoying a spectacular view over Central Park in Manhattan and adopting a racy pose while dressed as a scantily-clad showgirl in a Wild West-themed photoshoot in Canada. There were also images of her in uniform raising money for the Poppy Appeal.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed it started an investigation last year, adding: ‘A 28-yearold woman has voluntarily attended a police station and inquiries are ongoing.’
The school said yesterday: ‘We unreservedly condemn Miss Wilson’s actions. Her conduct represents a shocking abuse of her position of trust as a teacher.
‘On discovering what had taken place, she was immediately suspended and we conducted a thorough investigation that resulted in her subsequent dismissal. We then referred the case to the National College, who have prohibited her from teaching permanently. We welcome this decision.’
Miss Wilson did not respond to a request for comment.