Hearing told that teacher boasted of sex with pupil
ATEACHER told a colleague he had sex with a pupil on a school trip after drinking with her in the hotel bar until 6am, a hearing has heard.
Daniel Rickard, who worked at Cynffig Comprehensive School in Bridgend, was accused of having sex with a pupil on a school trip after boasting to a colleague that he had “smashed” her.
An Education Workforce Council (EWC) fitness to practice committee was told the teacher admitted telling his colleague Paul Hicks he had sex with a pupil but claimed it was just “banter” and the events had not taken place.
Speaking at the hearing in Cardiff, presenting officer Cadi Dewi said: “Mr Rickard was one of the members of staff on a school trip.
“During the course of that trip, on the final evening, an alleged incident took place in the bar area of the accommodation where the school was staying.
“Mr Hicks was sharing a bedroom with Mr Rickard and he said Mr Rickard did not return to his room until 6am on the final evening and had spent the evening drinking with one of the pupils during the course of that evening. Mr Hicks provides evidence of a conversation with Mr Rickard at 6am. He will say Mr Rickard said to him ‘you know (Pupil A)? I’ve just smashed her.’”
Mr Hicks was present at the hearing and spoke about the evening of the alleged incident.
He said: “I was woken up by Daniel in our shared bedroom, he said it was 6am. He told me he had been drinking and looked unsteady.
“He got into bed and he said ‘you know (Pupil A), I’ve just smashed her.’ I believe he was implying he had sexual intercourse with Pupil A.
“I was shocked and said ‘Are you joking?’ But Daniel said no.”
Mr Hicks said he later went down to breakfast where he was told by another teacher that Pupil A had not returned to her room until 6am, which led him to believe what Mr Rickard had said was true.
Mr Hicks said Mr Rickard had said he and Pupil A went to the basement of the hotel as there was no CCTV down there where he claimed Pupil A performed oral sex on him and they had sexual intercourse. The colleague added: “He told me he could ‘tick it off his bucket list’ now. He did not show any regret and he was quite boastful. At one point he took a call from his girlfriend and asked about his children, and then carried on with what he was talking about.”
Mr Hicks said Mr Rickard told him not to say anything about their conversation. He said: “I asked Daniel if he thought about his family, his children and his job and he said he only thought about the consequences after. At no point did I think he was joking”.
On the next Monday, Mr Hicks said he received a text message from Mr Rickard which said he had spoken with Pupil A. He said that Mr Rickard added: “In the same situation I’d probably do it again lol.”
Mr Hicks said he requested a meeting with headteacher Hannah Castle the next day where he provided a statement detailing the allegations against Mr Rickard.
Mr Rickard, who taught geography at the school, has admitted remaining in the bar area of the hotel with Pupil A and that the conversation between himself and Mr Hicks took place, but denies allegations he had sexual intercourse with Pupil A or that his actions amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.
Giving evidence at the hearing, Mr Rickard said teachers and pupils were drinking and talking together in the bar area but when he returned from the toilet the only person left was Pupil A.
Mr Rickard said at no point was there physical contact between him and Pupil A other than what he described or anything sexual.
He said: “My error of judgement was in speaking to Mr Hicks in the way I did. I’m not proud of my language and I know it’s not appropriate to speak in that manner.
“I was only speaking in the same way Mr Hicks had previously spoken to me. I didn’t think he had taken it seriously.”
When asked by Geraint Davies, representing Mr Rickard, whether he had sexual intercourse with Pupil A, Mr Richard said: “Absolutely not.”
The hearing was told that Pupil A and her mother had told police there had not been sexual contact between her and Mr Rickard.
The hearing continues.