A Wallsend teacher who left a pupil 'bruised' and 'crying' when he tried to ask a question has been banned from the classroom.
Lee Alan Dixon, formerly of Churchill Community College, has been found guilty of 'unacceptable professional conduct' by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), after he was accused of 'nipping and/or grabbing' the skin on a child's arm.
The incident was reported to police and Dixon, 43, was found guilty of assault, receiving a 12-month conditional discharge. He was suspended from work at the school in 2018 and has since been sacked.
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In November 2018, the TRA panel found, a child, known as 'Pupil A' approached Dixon at the end of a technology lesson to ask a question.
The panel said: "Pupil A's written evidence stated that the nip caused a stinging sensation on the skin of his arm and that a bruise formed on his arm. In his statement to the police, Pupil A stated that he walked away after Mr Dixon nipped him and was crying.
"[Witness] Pupil B states that he heard Mr Dixon apologise. Pupil B described Pupil A as "bright red in the face and crying'."
The panel found the allegation of "intentionally or recklessly apply[ing] unlawful force" to a pupil proven, and advised that Dixon be banned from the classroom. He will be able to apply to have his right to teach restored after three years, but he'll have to convince another TRA panel that he's safe to teach once again.
Dixon offered "contradictory" accounts of the incident, the panel said. Initially, he told investigators at the school that he had pinched the pupil as a "joke". He later told police that he'd pinched him by accident after A approached him "with his hands waving" seeming " excited and silly".
The panel found that Dixon's actions were "reckless" but said there was not enough evidence to prove he had deliberately been attempting to hurt the child.
In a written statement sent to the panel, the ex-teacher claimed that "any injury was entirely accidental, unmalicious and was provoked by Pupil A". He said: "I therefore continue to protest my innocence and feel justice was not upheld in my case."
He added that he "remain[ed] defiant" about the conviction.
Explaining its decision to recommend a ban, the panel wrote: "Although the panel felt that the actions of Mr Dixon were at the lower end of the behaviours associated with violence, it was concerned that Mr Dixon had provided contradictory responses to the allegations.
"The panel were particularly concerned that Mr Dixon had stated that he "remained defiant" and maintained his innocence, although he had initially accepted that he nipped Pupil A in his statement to the school."
Imposing the prohibition order on behalf of the Secretary of State for education, decision-maker John Knowles said: "In my judgement, there appears to be a lack of insight which means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour, and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils."
Paul Johnson, headteacher of Churchill Community College, said: “Following allegations in 2018, Mr Dixon was immediately suspended while an investigation took place and was subsequently dismissed from his post following the outcome of this investigation.
“Our top priority is always to ensure that our students are safe and supported when they are at Churchill Community College and we have embedded a strong culture of safeguarding which has been recognised by Ofsted.
“Professional conduct and safeguarding allegations within our school are extremely rare. When allegations or concerns do arise, we work closely with the relevant staff and agencies to ensure they are investigated and formal action is taken, where appropriate, against anyone who falls below the required standard."
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