Peterborough teacher struck off after paying child for video of 'sexual nature'
A panel found his action breached a number of standards
Last updated 3rd Jul 2024
A teacher has been banned from the profession after a panel found he had paid for a video of a child tied up.
Billy Hart, 28, taught at the City of Peterborough Academy in Peterborough between February 2020 and March 2021, when he was suspended.
The Teaching Regulation Agency panel found he had breached a number of standards including treating pupils with dignity and his conduct "fell significantly short of the standards expected".
The ex-teacher admitted to paying for a video of a child tied up with a blanket round their legs, and his behaviour was found to be of a sexual nature or was sexually motivated.
Mr Hart was arrested in June 2021 on suspicion of causing or inciting the exploitation of a child, but police said no further action would be taken.
The panel noted that Mr Hart was not present to provide evidence.
However, in his ECB interview, Mr Hart repeatedly stated that he had requested the video from Child A as a “joke”, although he later admitted that it was a “mistake”.
Mr Hart said he paid the child to show that he was “trustworthy” and a “man of his word on the work front”, as Child A and/or Child B had previously asked him for a job at his company.
Mr Hart stated that he had told them that there was no work available, but there may be a chance that they could do some voluntary work, which may lead to ÂŁ5 or ÂŁ10.
The panel also noted that, at the time of the misconduct, Mr Hart was still a young and inexperienced teacher, having still been working towards gaining qualified teacher status.
As a result, whilst the risk of repetition was currently present, the panel was of the view that there was a high chance of this risk dissipating once Mr Hart had had the opportunity to mature, and to engage in a significant level of safeguarding training and rehabilitation.
Hart has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 2027, 3 years from the date of this order at the earliest. This is not an automatic right to have the prohibition order removed.
If he does apply, a panel will meet to consider whether the prohibition order should be set aside. Without a successful application, Mr Hart remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely.