Brit teacher forced to quit after bombarding pupil with romantic texts

LONDON - A male teacher in Britain has been forced to quit his job at a private girls’ school after he bombarded a pupil with romantic emails and texts.

Darren Holmes, who earned 9,500-pounds-a-year teaching at Sheffield High School, is said to have developed an “intense and romantic relationship” with the girl.

The Professional Conduct Committee of the General Teaching Council heard that, for more than a month between September and October 2008, Holmes continued to contact Pupil A via email and text messaging.

He was found him guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct” and has been suspended for two years.

“We have concluded from the evidence that Mr Holmes formed an intense and romantic relationship with Pupil A,” the Daily Mail quoted committee chairman Andrew Connell as saying.

“This was facilitated and promoted by email and mobile text messages. The communications were highly inappropriate but there is no evidence of any meetings out of school or sexual activity.

“We were very concerned about the nature of the contact between Mr Holmes and Pupil A and consider it fortunate for all concerned these matters came to light within a few weeks following which Mr Holmes resigned,” he stated.

Connell said the conduct, which Holmes admitted, fell short of the standard expected of a registered teacher, and was a serious breach of the Code of Conduct and Practice for Registered Teachers.

“Mr Holmes failed to establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries in his relationship with Pupil A,” he added.

In mitigation, the committee took into account that Holmes had shown remorse and insight into his behaviour. (ANI)