Teacher who sent explicit photos sacked and banned

A teacher who sent pictures of his genitals to someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl has been sacked and banned from teaching after a police sting operation.

Philip Bayley, 36, of Wigan, sent sexually suggestive messages and photos on Kik and Snapchat. He taught at St Michael's Church of England High School, Chorley, but the incident is not connected to the school.

He was arrested and admitted sending indecent photos to a child for sexual gratification and attempting to communicate with a child under 16, a professional conduct panel said.

He had been chatting to an undercover officer posing as a schoolgirl in April 2024 and received a six-month sentence in October, suspended for 18 months.

A professional conduct panel hearing in June this year heard Bayley began a private message with the officer, believing they were a schoolgirl.

He asked about relationships and said "men know how to treat a lady", before exchanging photographs and talking about "cute stuff", like taking her on a trip to the zoo or the park, and about making out in the back row of the cinema, the panel was told.

He later started to send indecent photographs of himself.

The panel said his "serious and concerning" behaviour represented a failure to act in accordance with his responsibility as a teacher to protect children, and he had referenced his being a teacher in his messaging.

They noted he had no previous convictions and showed remorse, but found the seriousness of his behaviour was relevant to his continuing suitability to teach.

He was banned from teaching indefinitely with no provision for a review period.

A spokesman for St Michael's Church of England High School said: "As soon as the school became aware of the allegation, the member of staff in question was immediately suspended as per the school's disciplinary policy, and was subsequently dismissed.

"Our staff undertake regular and comprehensive training on safeguarding and pupils' wellbeing is high priority for all."

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