Teacher who abused girls is banned from profession
A PAEDOPHILE teacher who abused two young girls can never work in the profession again, a misconduct hearing has ruled.
The decision follows the 10-year jail sentence handed to Iain McDowall for sexual assault. The 49-year-old was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court in 2019.
When arrested, McDowall was working at Hawkesley Church School, Birmingham. But the offences took place years before he was employed by Hawkesley – they date back to 2009 and 2010.
The school has no involvement. The formality of handing McDowall, from Edgbaston, a teaching ban took place before a Teaching Regulation Agency panel.
At McDowall’s trial, one victim said he had robbed her of her innocence and childhood.
The panel was told McDowall still protests his innocence.
In his report, decision maker Alan Meyrick said: “I have placed considerable weight on the panel’s comments concerning the lack of insight or remorse.
“I have also placed considerable weight on the finding of the panel that ‘two of the victims were children aged five or six at the time of the offence, which occurred when Mr McDowell was their class teacher in a position of trust’.
“I have given less weight in my consideration of sanction, therefore, to the contribution that Mr McDowall has made to the profession.
“In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession. A published decision, in light of the circumstances in this case, that is not backed up by remorse or insight, does not, in my view, satisfy the public interest requirement concerning public confidence in the profession. For these reasons, I have concluded that a prohibition order is proportionate and in the public interest in order to achieve the intended aims of a prohibition order.
“I consider, therefore, that allowing for no review period is necessary to maintain public confidence and is proportionate and in the public interest.”
McDowall has 28 days to appeal the decision at the High Court.