Teacher Sent Flirtatious, Late Night Emails To Ex-Students, Banned From Teaching Indefinitely

A teacher in Gloucestershire, England, was banned from ever teaching in life after he sent 800 emails of sexual nature to two former students.

Gethin Bridge, 48, who used to teach history and geography in Winchcombe High School in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, admitted to sending bizarrely inappropriate mails to his former pupils between August and December 2017. He was dismissed from his teaching post in April 2018 and an investigation was opened on his professional conduct.

The detailed findings of a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel, which carried out the investigation and review into Bridge’s actions, were recently released. “The panel is satisfied that Mr. Bridge's conduct in relation to both pupils was for the purposes of sexual gratification, but not necessarily in pursuit of a future sexual relationship with either pupil,” the outcome of the investigation stated, adding that the “prohibition order” against Bridge will remain in effect “with no provision for a review period.”

In one of the emails, Bridge wrote, “I wish you were here so that as you do start to drift away I can linger on the contours of your face, tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear and kiss you softly. And you will be loved.”

Another message said: "I imagined you this morning with your hair spilling over the pillow, watching me, looking for a story. The thought made skin tingle and that deep, soft, gentle shiver ran through me."

“I miss you more than I thought possible,” he told one of the pupils in a different mail, Mail Online reported. In other similar mails he complimented one of his students telling him she had “gorgeous legs” and that he was “mesmerized” by her. For another pupil he wrote, he “struggled to take [his] eyes off” her and that he wanted to “trail kisses” on her.

Alan Meyrick, who signed off the lifetime ban on Bridge’s teaching, said: “In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession. These elements are the sexual misconduct found, the lack of full insight and the large volume of emails sent late at night.”

Following the verdict, the school released a statement making details about the incident public.

“In February 2018 we were made aware of a serious allegation against a member of our teaching staff. The allegation related to unprofessional conduct in the form of inappropriate correspondence with a pupil which took place after that pupil had left Winchcombe School. Safeguarding is a number one priority for us at Winchcombe School to ensure the safety of all pupils. The teacher involved was immediately suspended pending our investigation which ultimately resulted in his dismissal and our referral to the Teaching Regulation Agency,” Headteacher Neil Hall said.

TRA concluded: “The panel is satisfied that the emails were flirtatious. The large volume of emails, some sent very late at night and the sexual motivation were significant factors in forming that opinion. The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of sexual misconduct,”

Bridge said he regretted his actions but could not explain why he had chosen to send the emails. “I still do not fully understand why I behaved in the way that I did,” he told the panel.