Teacher who touched colleague's breasts banned

A special needs teacher who touched the breasts of a colleague in front of a pupil has been banned from the classroom for at least two years.

Robin Hadden failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries between December 2021 and April 2022 while working at Durham Trinity School and Sports College.

Headteacher Rachel Grimwood said action was taken as soon as the school was made aware of the incidents and the ban was an "appropriate outcome".

Mr Hadden has not admitted to the allegations and did not attend a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing in March.

The 53-year-old was employed at the special needs school between 2015 and 2023, when the agency was informed of his conduct after an internal investigation.

A TRA panel has banned him from teaching indefinitely, although he can apply for a review after 27 March 2027.

Ms Grimwood said: "We do not tolerate behaviour of this nature in our school and consider this an appropriate outcome.

"Action was taken as soon as we were made aware of the allegations, which resulted in the matter being referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency."

A TRA panel heard that around April 2022, Mr Hadden touched the breasts of a teaching assistant at the school in front of Pupil X, who was described as "vulnerable".

The hearing was told Pupil X had read the writing from the teaching assistant's t-shirt aloud.

She stated Mr Hadden had then approached her and removed her lanyard before "prodding her breasts", while reading the phrase on her top out loud in a phonetic manner.

"It was then said that he also underlined the words with his finger, by swiping across her breasts," a report said.

Pupil X corroborated her account in an investigative interview, giving a "physical demonstration".

Mr Hadden denied knowledge of the incident in a written submission, but the panel determined that "on balance, it was more likely than not that the incident had occurred".

The panel also found Mr Hadden made inappropriate comments to other female colleagues in December 2021, both in person and via social media.

The report stated he used the words "this was not the first time I had breasts in my face", with reference to the text on two colleagues' clothing (Individual B and Individual C).

The panel heard directly from both and they "gave a consistent account in relation to Mr Hadden making a remark of this nature".

He stated in written submissions "he had no recollection of this event".

On another occasion, Mr Hadden contacted Individual B on social media on 9 December 2021 and said "I did feel a little bit awkward about being forced to stare at your chest this morning" and "no-one ever needs to apologise for making me look at their boobs".

The report said the panel could not "conceive of a situation where it would be appropriate or suitable in the circumstances for Mr Hadden to communicate with Witness B in this manner".

Two other allegations of inappropriate messages were not proved by the panel.

The report added Mr Hadden's conduct was "sexual in nature", but "nothing" within the messages suggested "any pursuit of a future sexual relationship".

It concluded his actions amounted to "unacceptable professional conduct" and gave him a prohibition order, which can be reviewed in two years.

He can also appeal to the High Court within 28 days of receiving the ban.

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