Daniel Butterfield 39

Description

A teacher has been banned from teaching indefinitely after sending sexual messages to a girl he thought to be 13 and possessing indecent images of children.

Daniel Butterfield, 36, of Portland Road, Kingston , sent sexually explicit messages on an online messenger app between June and August 2018.

What he didn't realise though was that he was really talking to a police officer.

Butterfield sent explicit images of himself, and requested indecent images in return. He also made arrangements to meet with the girl.

Butterfield was first charged last October 2019 at Kingston Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offences. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also subjected to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offender Register.

The Teaching Regulations Agency met to discuss the crime and announced earlier this month (May 6) that it concluded Butterfield is banned from teaching indefinitely in schools, sixth form colleges, relevant youth accommodation and childrens home in England.

There will be no opportunity for a review of this decision.

Butterfield was employed as assistant head teacher at Tidemill Academy from September 1, 2013 until he resigned on July 28, 2019. Within his role Mr Butterfield also taught Year 6 classes English and Maths.

A spokesperson for REAch2, the parent organisation of Tidemill Academy, said: We can confirm that the individual in question last taught at Tidemill in July 2018. As the Metropolitan Police made clear, the offences did not involve any children from the academy.

"At REAch2 we take safeguarding extremely seriously in all of our academies, and we can confirm that all safeguarding processes were followed in full when this individual was appointed. The checks revealed no recorded history of any safeguarding concerns.

The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Butterfield fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. They noted that while Butterfield showed remorse, the seriousness of the offence and the public interest overrides this consideration.

The decision maker, Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State said: The panel was not provided with sufficient information to determine whether or not the allegations took place outside the education setting, although it acknowledged that this was likely to be the case.

In any event, the panels view was that the findings of misconduct were of a serious nature, and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individuals status as a teacher, potentially damaging the public perception.