Teen affair ex-teacher appealing over ban
A former primary school teacher who conducted sexual relationships with two girls is appealing against the decision to ban him from teaching for at least 10 years.
Jonathan Mark Norbury’s lawyers have confirmed their client has launched an appeal at the High Court against the Education Workforce Council and its findings against him.
In February a tribunal found that Mr Norbury had committed 17 of 21 allegations against him relating to girls under the age of 16 and between the ages of 16 and 18.
The Swansea-based former teacher was also found to have had inappropriately touched a third girl while she was under the age of 18.
Mr Norbury’s solicitor, Owain Jones, said in a statement: “We write to confirm that Mr Jonathan Norbury has now lodged an appeal against the decision of the Fitness to Practise Committee and against the Education Workforce Council.”
An Education Workforce Council’s (EWC) fitness to practise committee in Cardiff found that in 2005 Mr Norbury had engaged in sexual touching with a 15-year-old known as Girl A.
The panel believed Girl A when she said this happened at least once a week before she turned 16.
It also found that Girl A had an 18-month-long sexual relationship with Mr Norbury after she turned 16.
The panel found that between 2007 and 2008 Mr Norbury had sent inappropriate text messages, kissed and sexually touched a second girl – Girl B.
Mr Norbury also touched a third girl – Girl C – at his 25th birthday party, just a few days after she had turned 16 in 2006.
The panel found that Mr Norbury did not have any sexual contact with Girl C while she was under 16 and that they did not have sex until after her 18th birthday.
Mr Norbury was working as a teacher and acting deputy head at Casllwchwr Primary School, in Swansea, when the allegations emerged in 2013.
He was found not guilty of 14 historic child sex offences at Swansea Crown Court in January last year.
The Education Workforce Council refused to comment on Mr Norbury’s appeal.