Rapist ex-teacher is banned from schools for life

A former teacher jailed for life for sex offences against children has been banned from ever returning to the profession.

In 2023, a judge at Norwich Crown Court sentenced Richard Cosburn, 58, to at least 12 years in prison for 23 offences, including rape.

Now the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) has prohibited him from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.

A TRA misconduct panel noted that Cosburn, whose address when he was sentenced was Mill Road, Great Yarmouth, showed "no evidence of insight and remorse".

The 58-year-old, who last taught in Great Yarmouth, had worked in various teaching roles from 1995 to 2019.

He had carried out his attacks, which were not on pupils, over a 15-year period between 2001 and 2016. He was arrested in October 2020.

During the TRA's misconduct hearing, the panel ruled that Cosburn's actions had been "calculated and motivated".

It also concluded the seriousness of Cosburn's offending was relevant to his ongoing suitability to teach, and "raised obvious and significant public and child protection concerns".

The panel said Cosburn would not be allowed to appeal against the ban at any point in the future.

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