Teacher sent ‘harassing’ e-mails to school head
ASUPPLY teacher sent several “harassing” e-mails to school staff for months after being accused of grabbing two pupils, an Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel heard.
The EWC’s fitness to practise committee heard that James Got Hing Lee, who was employed by Teacher Active Agency, covered science lessons at Cynffig Comprehensive School in Bridgend for five days in January last year.
Lee was not present nor represented at the hearing having waived his right to participate in it. On January 26 he was alleged to have grabbed a pupil known as Child A by the arm or sleeve of his coat and “gripped” him with both hands at the top of his coat. Another pupil, known as Child B, complained of a similar incident involving Lee the same day in which he alleged the teacher grabbed him by the coat over the top of his arms and turned him so his back was against a cabinet.
Altogether Lee faced seven allegations. The committee found the two allegations regarding the “inappropriate physical contact” with the children were not proven but the four allegations involving Lee’s “harassing” e-mails to the school and other bodies were proven. They also found that the final allegation – that the proved allegations constituted unacceptable professional conduct – was proven.
The committee heard a witness statement from Lucy Dixon, a learning leader for key stage three in the school, who claimed Child A came to her to report an alleged incident. She said she escalated the complaint to the school’s safeguarding leader. During the course of inquiries it emerged Child B had complained of a second alleged incident involving
Lee.
The panel also heard a witness statement from head teacher Hannah Castle. Neither Child A nor Child B said they were hurt during the alleged incidents, she said.
Mrs Castle then alleged she and other members of staff received several e-mails from Lee the next day and in the months that followed.
On January 27, he was alleged to have sent an e-mail to school staff and a member of staff at Teacher Active in which he referred to being “bullied by lying accusations”. He also is alleged to have said how teacher shortages would not be so much of a problem if headmistresses supported their staff against false allegations and said that another child “wanted to kill at the school because of the occult electronics brainwashing him”.
He was alleged on February 9 to have sent an e-mail to a member of staff at Teacher Active which claimed Mrs Castle was protecting “liar falseaccusing criminal children”.
Between May and December he is alleged to have sent “inappropriate” and “intimidating” e-mails to various individuals and bodies, including South Wales Police.
In her witness statement Mrs Castle said the e-mails became “more intense and their frequency was increasing” despite the fact Lee was sent a cease and desist letter on July 1 to make no further contact. She said she “felt harassed” and that she was accused of “persecuting” Lee.
Lee received an indefinite prohibition order, banning him from the classroom. The order applies to all categories he is registered under – school teacher, further education learning support worker, work-based learning practitioner, and further education teacher. He will be able to apply after a period of two years for restoration to register and can appeal to the High Court within 28 days.