A FORMER assistant headteacher at St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Alcester has been banned from teaching and placed on the sex offenders register after he was found keeping an explicit video.
William Gee was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct at a panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency last month.
Gee, who did not appear at the hearing, was head of music and assistant head at the school from January 2020 until December 2023.
The panel heard that Gee was in communication with an individual, who sent him numerous images seen on or around October 28, 2022, one of which involved a man performing a sex act in the presence of a 15-year-old child.
He was arrested and cautioned by West Mercia Police in December 2023 for making photographs or pseudo-photographs of children after it was discovered he had the indecent video on his phone for almost a year and did not report it.
Gee was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of two years from December 14 2023.
The panel heard a written statement prepared by Gee in April of this year.
It said: “After sending me the unsolicited indecent image I failed to report this incident to the police.
“I regret this immensely, and on reflection, believe this to be because I was scared that any action would jeopardise the interest this individual had shown me – I understand now how flawed and foolish this way of thinking was.”
The panel concluded that the conduct of Gee amounted to misconduct of a serious nature, which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession and brought it into disrepute.
Sarah Buxcey, from the Teaching Regulation Agency, said: “Gee is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
“Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Gee shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”
The Standard have contacted St Benedict’s Catholic High School and are awaiting comment at the time of going to press.
