FOOTBALL COACH ASKED GIRL ABOUT THONG, PANEL SAYS
A teacher and women's football coach who allegedly sent topless photos to young girls and spoke to one about her "wearing a lucky thong" has been struck-off.Joshua Roper was head of physical education at Sheringham Community Primary School, in Norfolk, at the time of the incidents, having joined in January 2018.
Prior to his employment, concerns about the 30-year-old's conduct had been raised to the Football Association (FA) while he was a coach.
The Teaching Regulation Agency said his "actions had had a serious impact on the children involved" and banned him from the profession for life.
Mr Roper admitted some of the allegations, but denied others, including the accusation that he sent the "lucky thong" message.
The panel heard he touched a child's bottom, called her "babe", and sent suggestive texts and emojis to her about her wearing a bikini and "short shorts" in front of him.
The panel also concluded that Mr Roper had sent topless photos of himself in his underwear to another child on Snapchat and touched her back - two accusations he had denied.
He also spoke with a third child using Snapchat and other social media platforms, and was accused of sending "sexual-based" messages and "random inappropriate comments".
On one occasion, he allegedly said: "Guess you must've been wearing your lucky thong today." This was followed by "yeah I could tell" with a winking emoji.
The Teaching Regulation Agency ruled that his actions were of a sexual nature or sexually motived and therefore amounted to gross misconduct.
"The panel considered that this conduct had undermined public confidence in a fundamental way and that his actions had had a serious impact on the children involved," said agency decision maker Sarah Buxcey.
