Gloucestershire teacher banned for life after indecent images found

The ex-teacher had admitted that he "obtained sexual gratification" from the images

A teacher has been banned for life after indecent images of children were found on his phone and laptop.

Gilbert Antony was a history and health teacher at The Crypt School in Podsmead for nearly 20 years, until his arrest on 28 June 2022.

On 30 June 2022, Antony pleaded guilty to distributing indecent photographs of children between May 2020 and June 2022.

The Teaching Regulation Agency has now banned him from teaching indefinitely.

This means that Antony cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children's home in England.

Antony had been suspended by the school after his arrest and he was dismissed from the school for gross misconduct in July 2022.

'Protect children'

The Teaching Regulation Agency's conduct panel noted in a report that Antony had admitted that he "obtained sexual gratification" from the images that were found on his devices.

The panel found that Mr Antony failed in his duty to uphold the safety and welfare of pupils by not reporting the indecent images he had viewed online and instead continuing to view them for one to two years.

David Oatley, who made the decision to ban him, said in a report: "In this case, I have considered the extent to which a prohibition order would protect children and safeguard pupils.

"In view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Antony shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."