WILLIAM GEE BANNED FROM TEACHING IN ALCESTER AFTER SERIOUS MISCONDUCT INVOLVING CHILD SEX ABUSE VIDEO

William Gee, a music teacher once celebrated as an 'unsung hero,' has been formally prohibited from working within educational settings following a grave misconduct incident involving a child sex abuse video. Gee, aged 32, served as the head of the music department at St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Alcester, Warwickshire, from January 2020 until December 2023. His actions have now led to a significant disciplinary outcome, reflecting the severity of his misconduct.

According to the disciplinary panel, Gee received an unsolicited, disturbing video from an online paedophile who had shown interest in him. Despite the vile nature of the content, Gee kept the video on his phone for an entire year after it was sent. During this period, he continued to communicate with the individual behind the material, believing that he was forming a genuine romantic connection rather than recognizing the sexual exploitation involved. His failure to report the incident to authorities was deemed a serious breach of safeguarding standards.

Throughout the investigation, it was revealed that Gee was in a fragile mental state at the time. He admitted to feeling 'scared' of losing the offender’s interest, which influenced his decision to maintain contact and not alert police authorities. The misconduct panel classified this incident as 'serious' misconduct, emphasizing that although the video was unsolicited, Gee’s deliberate retention of it and ongoing communication demonstrated a troubling level of complicity.

Further details uncovered that Gee previously worked at a school in Birmingham, where he led the music department. In 2022, he was even nominated for the 'Unsung Hero' award, highlighting his prior reputation within the educational community. However, following his arrest in October 2023, Gee admitted to viewing the indecent material and subsequently accepted a police caution in December 2023 for making indecent images of children.

Despite his claims that he had no sexual interest in children and that his primary motivation was to seek affection from the adult sender, the disciplinary panel concluded that his conduct was 'sexually motivated.' They also noted that his failure to report the incident was a deliberate act. As a result, Gee has been placed on the sex offenders register for two years and has been issued a prohibition order, which bans him from teaching in any educational or youth-related facility across England indefinitely.

In his statement, Gee expressed remorse for his actions and claimed to have taken steps to improve his self-esteem and understanding of safeguarding responsibilities. He reported that he had ceased using social media and dating apps, indicating an effort to address his issues. Nonetheless, the panel expressed concern that Gee was 'unable to speak openly' about the circumstances leading up to the incident. His reflections appeared to focus more on the impact on himself rather than the victim, and although he reported accessing self-help resources and believed he was no longer a threat, his overall insight was considered incomplete.

The report underscores the serious breach of safeguarding duties by Gee, who held a senior role with significant responsibilities at St Benedict’s Catholic High School. His failure to act responsibly and his continued misconduct have ultimately resulted in his ban from the teaching profession, highlighting the importance of safeguarding and the consequences of neglecting these critical duties.