Teacher struck off after asking girl to wear uniform for sex
A teacher was banned from class after asking a girl to wear her school uniform while having sex.
Benjamin Hiscox, 34, had inappropriate sexual intercourse with the girl between October 2022 and February 2023 while he was working as a maths teacher at South Nottinghamshire Academy.
The girl was a student at Madras College in St Andrews, Scotland, where the 34-year-old was completing her teacher training.
The pair then began talking on social media and their conversation quickly turned sexually explicit, according to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel.
The panel found Hiscox asked the girl to bring his uniform and wear it while they “had sex several times” in a hotel room on October 28, 2022.
Other “serious” findings included buying her a sex toy, sending her sexual messages, including photos and videos, and giving her alcohol.
Referring to his hotel stay in October 2022, the student said in his police statement: “[Hiscox] He asked me to bring my school uniforms to the hotel.” Then, when he entered the room, he said:[Hiscox] He asked me to wear my school uniform. Mine [uniform] a short black skirt, white [shirt] and tie.
The TRA panel described Hiscox’s behavior as “persistent” and “with the sole intent that this behavior would involve physically inappropriate contact for the purpose of her sexual gratification – which was akin to grooming behaviour”. As a result, it was stated that his actions were “at the high end of the spectrum of serious misconduct”.
The panel said the decision to ban was “both proportionate and appropriate”. In particular, attention was drawn to the current risk of Hiscox to children and the fact that if the ban is not imposed, it may lead to damage to public confidence in education.
“Accordingly, the panel recommended to the secretary of state that a restraining order be implemented with immediate effect,” he said.
A review period was also not allowed because the case involved “serious sexual abuse” involving a child and indecent images of the child.
In his response this month, David Oatley, acting on behalf of the education secretary, said: “In this case, I gave great weight to the panel’s comments about the serious nature of the misconduct, the risk to children and the potential for damage to confidence in the teaching profession unless a ban is introduced.
“I also attached great importance to the panel’s comments about lack of insight and regret.”
It concluded that Hiscox should be banned from teaching indefinitely and that he could not teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
In light of the seriousness of the allegations against him, Mr Oatley added that Hiscox could not apply to have his fitness to teach restored.
The order came into force as soon as it was notified to Hiscox. He had the right to appeal to the Supreme Court within 28 days.
