HERTFORDSHIRE TEACHER BANNED FOR SENDING EXPLICIT IMAGES TO UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER
A teacher who transmitted indecent images of himself to an undercover police officer posing as a minor has been issued an indefinite ban from the teaching profession.Thomas Calverley, who taught PE at Adeyfield Academy in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, believed he was conversing with a 14-year-old boy via online chat.
He admitted to child sex offences in court and was subsequently banned from teaching by a panel from the Teaching Regulation Agency.
The report documents that Calverley used online chat platforms between May 25 and June 3, 2021, where he sent explicit photographs to the officer, convinced he was communicating with a boy named Ben and requested sexual images in return.
Police tracked him through his online profile, leading to his arrest.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and attempting to cause a child under 16 to view sexual images.
He was sentenced to a two-year community order with mandatory participation in the Horizon Sex Offender programme, along with 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work.
The disciplinary panel noted that there was no evidence Calverley showed remorse or insight, which increased concerns over potential future risks to pupils.
