Sheffield teacher banned for sexual activity with underage girl

Mr O'Leary worked as a supply teacher when he met the underage girl

A teacher has been banned from teaching for life, after grooming a teenage girl he met online.

Liam O'Leary, 38, was working as a supply teacher at Beck Primary School in Shiregreen in 2013, when he met the girl who was under the age of 16.

A professional conduct panel heard Mr O'Leary met the girl for sexual activity and encouraged her to send him dozens of indecent images of herself.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) banned him from teaching indefinitely.

The panel heard how, over a two-month period, Mr O'Leary - who entered the teaching profession in 2011 - had exchanged more than 2,000 messages with the girl, some of which were sexually explicit.

It was told Mr O'Leary met the girl, who was not a pupil at the school where he worked, through an online chat website - and began a relationship with her in November 2013.

They met in person twice, and on the first occasion engaged in kissing and sexual touching, the panel heard.

Speaking to police as part of a separate investigation in February 2014, the girl disclosed she had been involved in sexual contact with Mr O'Leary.

'Unacceptable professional conduct'

In February 2019, Mr O'Leary resigned as a teacher. The following month he was interviewed by police.

However, in November 2019 the girl confirmed she was unwilling to attend a criminal hearing.

The case was then referred to a TRA professional conduct panel hearing.

Allegations made against Mr O'Leary included: exchanging sexually explicit messages with a child he knew - or ought to have known - was under the age of 16, causing or allowing a child to send him indecent images of herself, engaging in sexually explicit conversations, and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Mr O'Leary denied any physical contact had taken place with the girl, but admitted receiving photos and sending messages.

The panel found all of the allegations proven. Mr O'Leary was not present and was not represented.

A report by Sarah Buxcey, on behalf of the Department for Education, stated Mr O'Leary's actions amounted to "unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute".

''This means that Mr Liam O'Leary is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England," the report added.

The panel also recommended Mr O'Leary should be the subject of a prohibition order, with no provision for a review period.