RICHARD JAMES PUGH

TEACHER FINED FOR GIFTING ALCOHOL AND SENDING CHRISTMAS CARD WITH A KISS TO STUDENT

A teacher who supplied alcohol to a child aged under 18 in school has been fined £500 with further court costs as a judge rebuked him for damaging the trust in his profession and trying to shift the blame onto the pupil.

Richard James Pugh was head of science at Llangatwg Community School in Neath when he messaged the child on social media and then gave her a Christmas card signed from "your best buddy" with a kiss and gifts including a canned cocktail, Merthyr Magistrates Court heard.

Giving evidence by video link, the child, who cannot be identified, told how Pugh had left her feeling anxious and isolated because of his unwanted attention to her.

She described feeling "trapped" and scared she would not be believed if she reported it because he was a teacher.

She said thinking about it made her panic and that Pugh "refuses to take responsibility for what he did".

Summing up, District Judge Neil Thomas said: "There was nothing of any credibility in his (Pugh's) evidence and he could not tell the truth even at this late stage.

The maximum sentence I can give is a fine." Pugh, who is jobless and does not intend returning to teaching, the court heard, was fined £500 plus a £200 court surcharge and £650 prosecution costs to be paid at £25 a month.

Separately, Judge Thomas also agreed to the complainant's request for a restraining order against Pugh.

Granting the order for 12 months the judge told him he must not contact the child directly or indirectly and must not put anything about her on social media.

"That's not to do with the sentencing, but if you break the order you will be arrested and could be sentenced to five years in prison," the judge warned the former science teacher.