Lifetime ban for disgraced teacher is ‘proportionate’

HEAD OF SCIENCE WAS JAILED IN 2020 AFTER GROOMING STUDENT

A disgraced Leicestershire teacher who was jailed for grooming and abusing one of his students has now been given a lifetime ban from the profession.

Tony Fraine, who taught at Hinckley Academy and John Cleveland Form Centre, was jailed in 2020 for the predatory behaviour which he committed against a 17-year-old pupil.

The head of department had manipulated the teenager into the inappropriate relationship and coerced her into sending explicit images and messages.

He was jailed for two years. Now, the 39-year-old has been banned from ever teaching again in the UK after a disciplinary hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

The hearing was told how Fraine had become a newlyappointed teacher at the school in 2005, later rising to head of the science department in 2010.

It was in 2019 when the first allegations of his predatory behaviour were made.

He was suspended by the school and later appeared before Leicester Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard how Fraine had begun the abuse by sending his victim flattering messages, which then became sexualised.

He also gave her a gift of underwear, while she later sent naked images after going along with his repeated requests.

Fraine is also subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

For the TRA panel, they felt letting Fraine return to the classroom would put children at risk and harm public confidence.

“There was a strong public interest consideration in respect of the protection of pupils and other children given the very serious findings relating to sexual activity with a pupil and conduct associated with grooming,” the panel said.

“The panel considered that Fraine’s behaviour in committing the offence would be likely to affect public confidence in the teaching profession if (he) was allowed to continue teaching, given the influSixth ence that teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community.”

Citing the need to issue the ban in the public interest, the TRA said it had to treat the case with the “utmost seriousness”, believing that a lifetime ban was both “proportionate and appropriate”.

“The seriousness of the offences including the grooming behaviour which took place over a substantial period of time was a significant factor,” the panel said.

Concluding the report, Sarah Buxcey, from the TRA, believed Fraine’s actions meant he could not be allowed to ever teach again.

“The panel finds that the conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession,” she said.

“Fraine’s offending behaviour was serious, concerning sexual activity with a pupil, which ultimately led to a sentence of imprisonment, which I agree with the panel is relevant to his ongoing suitability to teach.

“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.”