Latest news with #sexual abuse
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Grimsby teacher Cheyne Phillips banned for sexual contact with ex-pupils
A teacher has been banned from the profession for life after a panel ruled on the "balance of probabilities" that he had sex with one former pupil and sent inappropriate messages to Phillips, 34, was a PE teacher at Healing Academy, a secondary school near Grimsby, at the time.A professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency was told he denied the allegations and "a large amount of the factual assertions surrounding them".However, during a public hearing held between 6 and 9 May, the panel found Mr Phillips had exploited his position of trust by pursuing "highly inappropriate relationships and sexual misconduct with children". Mr Phillips had "spoken to and repeatedly and persistently corresponded via e-mail, Instagram and Snapchat" with the former pupils "in ways that were sexual and inappropriate", the panel one of the cases, this "ultimately led" to "repeated and serious sexual misconduct".Mr Phillips, who did not attend the hearing, worked at the academy from July 2016 to July a statement, the trust that runs the school said the allegations were "dealt with swiftly" and it had "complied fully" with an investigation. The panel heard allegations that Mr Phillips had developed inappropriate relationships with two former pupils, known as A and B, after they left the said his behaviour towards them had changed as they entered the final months of their time there. 'Ur a secret' Pupil A said Mr Phillips had followed her on Instagram after she left and started messaging her. The panel found that, on the balance of probabilities, he had made a number of comments of a sexual or inappropriate nature, sent at least one photograph of himself and requested images of had also attempted to meet her and, in one message, told her "ur a secret".Pupil B said Mr Phillips had winked at her in revision sessions towards the end of her time at school, before emailing "something flirty" after she had then exchanged messages on Instagram and Snapchat and he asked to meet panel stated that it was satisfied from the evidence that he had received at least one explicit photograph from her and asked, "am I going to make the first move, or are you?"It found, on the balance of probabilities, that Mr Phillips had kissed, had sex and engaged in other sexual activity with Pupil B. 'Breached trust' The panel found Mr Phillips' actions breached professional standards and safeguarding guidance that classifies children as everyone under the age of was "guilty of unacceptable professional conduct" that "may bring the profession into disrepute".There were "repeated breaches of trust" owed to the former pupils and the panel "had no doubt" that his actions had "harmed" them and "were having a serious and continued effect".The panel noted that Mr Phillips had stated that he did not feel he was in a position to properly respond to the allegations and did not intend to return to Sarah Buxcey confirmed an indefinite ban on behalf of the education a statement, Harbour Learning Trust, which runs the academy, said it was "committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all of our students and expects all our staff to share this unwavering commitment". "This incident was dealt with swiftly by the trust, under the previous CEO and head teacher, and the school and trust have complied fully with the investigation," the statement added."Harbour Learning Trust does not condone behaviour that compromises the well-being, trust, or safety of our students in any way."Humberside Police said it had received a report concerning "inappropriate conduct and relationships of a teacher". Following a "full and thorough investigation", no further action was taken. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE PE teacher who had sex with a pupil and sent flirtatious texts and selfies to another is pictured after being banned from the classroom
A super-fit PE teacher who had sex with a pupil and sent flirtatious texts and selfies to another has been banned from the classroom for life. Married Cheyne Phillips, 34, was Deputy Head of PE at Healing Science Academy, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, when he started the inappropriate relationships, a Teaching Regulation Agency disciplinary panel was told. The fitness fanatic, who competed in combat sports and ran marathons worked at the school between 6 July 2016 to 22 July 2022. In that period Phillips raised more than £6,000 for a seriously ill child by running a Yorkshire marathon. During that time he had regular sexual encounters with Pupil B, who also sent him 'nudes' and he flirted with Pupil A on Instagram asking 'how's the head game?' The panel heard that on 6 October 2021 Pupil A's mother made a complaint to the school after she saw messages from Phillips which she considered were sexual in nature. On 15 November 2021, Pupil B's mother reported that she had become aware that Pupil B, who had recently left the school, had been engaging in sexual activity with Phillips since July 2021. She reported that Pupil B had also received a number of messages from Mr Phillips that were sexual in nature. Humberside Police, the school and the Local Authority Designated Officer ('LADO') proceeded to investigate the allegations. The panel found Phillips: Followed Pupil A on Instagram Sent one or more photographs of himself to Pupil A Received photos and videos of Pupil A Made one or more comments of a sexual nature/innuendo and/or inappropriate nature towards Pupil A Told Pupil A,'ur a secret' The panel found Phillips engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A. Regarding Pupil B, the panel found Phillips: Communicated with her via email and/or Instagram and/or Snapchat; Winked at Pupil B on one or more occasions; Received one or more explicit photographs of Pupil B Stated to Pupil B 'your bum in that suit' Asked Pupil B 'am I going to make the first move, or are you?' Pupil B submitted that on 3 July 2021, Mr Phillips added her on Instagram and Pupil B followed him back. Pupil B indicated that afterwards they continued messaging on Instagram and their messages moved to Snapchat from July. Pupil B stated that when they had connected on Instagram Phillips started to message her and repeatedly tried to arrange to meet up. Phillips had flirtatiously complemented her on her leggings whilst she was walking a dog and later kissed her in a car park after he'd been meeting fellow teachers. On a later date Phillips parked near her house and she went to meet him, and they drove to the car park. The first thing he said to her was 'are you gonna make the first move or am I'. Pupil B stated that she did not know what to do and would not have initiated anything as she was young and naïve. Mr Phillips was persistently trying to meet up and Pupil B confirmed that they met up, in total, on five or so occasions. Pupil B stated that they would talk on Snapchat but also exchanged some explicit images. Pupil B explained that Phillips would request explicit images. Pupil B recalled specifically that she sent to him two pictures of herself in the shower naked and a video of her in the shower naked and touching herself intimately. She recalled she also sent him two images where, respectively, the bottom of her breasts and her thong were shown. She also recalls that Mr Phillips sent her a couple of images of him topless and wearing boxer shorts. Pupil B stated that shortly after this on another day Phillips had arranged to meet her and had collected her in his car. He had driven to the car park and he started kissing her and put his hand on her leg and started to rub it. She stated that he then moved his hand up and started to touch her private parts over her leggings and said to her 'next time you need to wear something looser. Pupil B stated that he then said to her 's**k me off', so she did, and after this he dropped her back home. Pupil B stated that she believed that she met up with Phillips five times in total, and stated that she had sex with him on two of those occasions, and the first three times they met up they did 'sexual things' but didn't have sex. She stated that they kissed, she performed a sex act on him, and he digitally penetrated her. The panel was satisfied that Phillips was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and prohibited from teaching indefinitely.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
B.C. teacher agrees to 15-year ban over sexual relationship with Grade 12 student
A B.C. teacher has agreed to the cancellation of his teaching certificate and a 15-year ban on applying for a new one after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a student. The office of B.C.'s Commissioner for Teacher Regulation published an anonymized summary of its consent agreement with the teacher on its website Tuesday. The document withholds the teacher's name and other key information in order to protect the identity of the student 'who was harmed, abused or exploited' in the case. It does not say where in B.C. the misconduct occurred, nor does it indicate the student's gender. According to the document, the teacher held a subject-restricted independent school teaching certificate and was employed as a secondary school teacher until August 2024. At that time, following a report from the school's principal to the commissioner, he signed an undertaking not to teach in any role requiring certification from the provincial Ministry of Education and Child Care. The consent agreement summary indicates the student – referred to as 'Student A' throughout – was one of the teacher's pupils. 'When Student A was in Grade 12, the teacher breached professional boundaries by allowing Student A to confide in him and become dependent on him,' the document reads, adding that the teacher made inappropriate physical contact by touching 'the back of Student A's bare knees' on several occasions. 'On the day Student A graduated from the school, the teacher kissed Student A,' the document continues. 'Student A told the teacher that they loved him. The teacher responded by saying that he loved Student A too.' The teacher also 'engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship' with the student 'around the time of Student A's graduation,' according to the document. It does not specify whether the relationship became sexual before or after the student graduated. According to the summary, the teacher admitted that this conduct constituted professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a teacher, and agreed to the certificate cancellation and teaching ban. The summary lists three factors that led the commissioner to conclude these sanctions were appropriate. First, the inappropriate relationship 'arose out of the teacher-student relationship.' Second, the teacher 'demonstrated a serious failure to maintain appropriate boundaries.' And third, the teacher 'engaged in conduct which damaged a student's emotional safety and well-being.'
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Telegraph
Teacher ‘had sex sessions with pupil while parents were at work'
An art teacher had regular sex sessions with a pupil at his home while his parents were at work, a misconduct panel has heard. Helen Flinders, 55, had a five-month relationship with the teenager between June and December 2000. A Teacher Regulation Agency misconduct panel found Flinders 'seriously breached the teacher-pupil boundary' after the case was referred to them in 2022. Flinders has subsequently been banned from the profession. The panel heard how the teacher went for a drink with 'Pupil A' after sports day at St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon, Wiltshire, in July 2000. She had been an art teacher at the secondary school since 1994. 'Consensual kiss' In her witness statement, Flinders said that after the drink they went to another teacher's house where she asked Pupil A for a kiss goodbye. Flinders said 'he kissed me and it was consensual', adding: 'A consensual sexual relationship began during the summer break of 2000.' The pair met about three or four times at the student's parents' house, the panel was told, before their relationship ended in December of the same year. Pupil A said: 'The first time Helen Flinders and I had sex was in my parents' house. 'She came over and had asked what I wanted to do, and whether I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. 'It therefore progressed into a consensual sexual relationship. 'During the summer, my parents worked during the day and were out of the house, so they were not aware that our relationship had progressed to a sexual [one].' In 2011, the student was asked by an individual he was dating whether there had been any truth to the rumours of his affair with Flinders almost 10 years prior. When he admitted there had been a sexual relationship, his partner informed Flinders' employer – now Churchfields School in Swindon – and she was suspended. Police began an investigation but did not refer the case to the Teacher Regulation Agency until 2022. 'Prohibited from teaching' Duncan Tilley, the panel chairman, highlighted 'a clear expectation' for teachers to 'keep children safe and protect their well-being'. He added: 'The panel considered that Miss Flinders's conduct fell significantly short of the standards of behaviour expected of the profession at the time... [and it was a] complete abuse of her position of trust to commence a sexual relationship with one of her pupils. 'The panel also noted that despite Pupil A and Miss Flinders stating that the sexual relationship was consensual, the panel considered the potential harmful impact that this relationship could have had on Pupil A's life.' Sarah Buxcey, the decision maker, said on behalf of the Secretary of State: 'Miss Helen Flinders is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. 'In view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Miss Helen Flinders shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach.' Flinders has the right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
CBC
17-05-2025
- CBC
Edmonton police officer who used job to pursue women gets 6 months in jail
An Edmonton police officer, who used his position to pursue sexual relationships with vulnerable women he met on duty, has been sentenced to six months behind bars. Const. Hunter Robinz, 39, pleaded guilty last year to breach of trust, admitting that he made sexual advances toward eight different women from 2017 to 2019. The women's names are covered by a publication ban. The women all needed police help: calling to report a break-in, seeking help for a suicidal family member or getting assistance for a domestic violence situation, among other issues. Robinz subsequently sought them out after meeting them on the job and sent unsolicited, inappropriate messages. In the final incident that ultimately prompted the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the province's police watchdog, to investigate Robinz's conduct, the officer returned to the home of a woman he'd helped earlier that day, when he and his EPS partner found her intoxicated and distressed in a public park. Robinz used the woman's key to let himself inside the house and aggressively pursued her, kissing her several times while she repeatedly asked him to leave. Calling Robinz's conduct "predatory," Court of King's Bench Justice Susan Bercov said Friday that a jail term is necessary to denounce his actions. "A strong message must be sent, that these types of abuses of authority will not be tolerated and that there will be significant consequences for those who engage in this behaviour," she said. Police officers rarely get jail time after a criminal case. ASIRT's public statistics on police charges lists just two other instances since 2009: an RCMP officer who was convicted in a theft and fraud case, and a Calgary police officer found guilty of assault in a violent 2016 arrest. Robinz's defence lawyer, Allan Fay, argued for a period of house arrest instead of time behind bars, which Bercov ultimately rejected. Her sentence additionally imposes a two-year probation period. The judge spoke about how, in this case, the women's victim impact statements illustrate the damage of reaching out for help, only to be victimized again by someone in authority. "I am satisfied Mr. Robinz's actions have caused significant, serious and widespread damage. Not only to the women, but to the community as well," Bercov said. "I applaud the courage of the women who came forward to report the offences, who were willing to testify and who provided victim impact statements. Their courageous actions prevented other women from being victimized." Crown prosecutor John Schmidt also credited the women who reported the misconduct for Friday's outcome. "More than anything, what we would like to express is our sincere thanks and appreciation for the eight women who came forward — who had the courage that it takes to speak out something like this," he said. Officer acknowledges 'unacceptable' behaviour Robinz has been suspended without pay from EPS since the end of 2021, when he was charged with sexual assault, unauthorized use of a computer database and two counts of breach of trust. After his guilty plea to one count of breach of trust, the Crown withdrew the other charges. A police disciplinary investigation follows the end of criminal proceedings, according to an EPS spokesperson. Robinz's defence lawyer previously told the court that, regardless of the ultimate sentencing outcome, there's "little doubt" his client will never work as a police officer again. Robinz apologized in court on Friday. "I am sorry for my behaviour. I'm sorry to my family, my friends and obviously the complainants for the pain I caused them. It was unacceptable. I was in a crisis and I didn't know," he said. The court heard Robinz has been diagnosed with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, which is connected to his past military service in Afghanistan. In Bercov's decision, she accepted that those mental health issues likely played a part in some of his conduct. In addition to Robinz's guilty plea, it's one of the mitigating factors in his sentence.
