Milton Keynes teacher banned for sending explicit images to teenager
Tribunal finds teacher made explicit images available on Snapchat
An assistant headteacher from Milton Keynes has been banned from teaching for at least two years after sending explicit images to a teenage boy via Snapchat.
38-year-old Ross Bullen admitted to exchanging sexually explicit pictures with numerous individuals using the messaging app. He explained to a tribunal that he engaged in these activities for a "sexual thrill" and to feel "wanted" and "confident."
The tribunal panel, run by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), concluded that Mr Bullen's actions had brought the teaching profession into disrepute.
During the tribunal, Mr Bullen described his behaviour as "stupid" and "reckless," acknowledging it was "regrettable" and "questionable."
Teenager's account leads to tribunal finding
Evidence presented at the tribunal revealed that Mr Bullen sent unsolicited images to the teenager, referred to as "person A," and the tribunal found person A's account more credible. Mr Bullen, however, denied knowing the teenager's age when he sent the images, stating he was unaware that some of his connections on Snapchat could be under 18.
The panel highlighted that Mr Bullen had attempted to protect his career during the school's investigation, admitting he was not as forthcoming as he could have been. Although person A claimed to have informed Mr Bullen of his age, the panel found this could not be conclusively proven, as message logs were unrecoverable.
Mr Bullen cannot teach at any educational institution in England until 13th August 2028, when he may apply for a review of the ban.