A teacher at a private school of £ 40,000 a year who had a secret sexual relationship with a student is banned from the classroom for life.
Pedophile Thomas Marriott worked as a history teacher and rowing pool when he started the filthy relationship with a student.
The 39-year-old transported sexual acts with her on school grounds and even told her to 'keep the relationship secret'. The affair led his victim to suffer 'considerable' damage.
A misconduct panel of an educational regulation agency has now said that he has violated the educational standards and his actions amounted to misconduct.
The panel heard how Marriott worked at St Peter's School – a private school in York – between September 2007 and August 2011.
He 'became close to a female student, with an' inappropriate relationship 'who develops and became' completely sexual in nature 'while she was at school.
The case was reported to the police in November 2021, by that time Marriott worked as a deputy senior lecturer at Princethorpe College, near Rugby. He started there in September 2021, but left three months later.
In April 2023, Marriott admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child through trust in the York Crown Court.
Pedophile Thomas Marriott worked as a history teacher and rowing pool at St Peter's School (photo) – a private school in York – when he had sex with a student there
In April 2023, Marriott admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child through a person of trust to the York Crown Court (photo).
He was sentenced to 21 months, suspended for two years, with a requirement of rehabilitation activity and unpaid work.
The suspect – who lived in Powys at the time of his conviction, Wales – was also told to sign the register of sex offenders for 10 years.
The victim of Marriott suffered from 'considerable long -term damage' because of his insult, the panel heard.
A report from the panel was: “The panel noted that the behavior involved in committing the violations took place in the school environment and a student was involved who taught Marriott at the time.”
The report said that the panel was of the opinion that there was an 'imbalance of power given the teachers' performance relationship that then existed that the relationship began'.
It added: 'The panel noticed the impact that the violations had had on the student and was of the opinion that Marriott's behavior could have had an impact on the safety of students and/or members of the public.
'The Panel has also taken into account the way in which the profession of education is viewed by others.
'The panel was of the opinion that the behavior of Marriott would influence the trust of the public in the profession of education in committing the crime, given the influence that teachers can have on students, parents and others in the community.
“The panel was of the opinion that members of the public would be shocked to hear that Marriott had done sexual activity with a student and that this had taken place several times in the field of the school.”
When Marriott was arrested in November 2021, he was a deputy senior lecturer at Princethorpe College near Rugby (photo)
Marriott had a 'good record as a teacher in the years' after his insult and there was 'no indication' that he 'had repeated his behavior' since then.
Former students wrote explanations that mentioned his 'positive impact on them as a teacher', while former colleagues confirmed his good work as a teacher since the time these incidents took place.
Marriott claimed that he had not 'understood that his behavior was illegal' because he 'was recruited in the school directly from the university without a PGCE or equivalent educational qualification'.
But he accepted 'full responsibility' for his sex offenses, where the report added: “The panel also read the detailed response and reflection of Marriott in which he had accepted that his behavior was wrong and obstructed.”
During a hearing in January, Marriott was subjected to a prohibition order.
It means that he is forbidden to teach for an indefinite period of time and cannot teach a school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.
A spokesperson for St. Peter told the BBC at the time: 'The security of our students is of the utmost importance for us and we will always continue to assess and investigate our processes.
'All our employees receive a rigorous training and we work closely with legal and advisory authorities to ensure that our approaches are thorough and up -to -date.
'On behalf of St. Peter's School, we repeat our full and unconditional apology to the victim of Marriott for their suffering while a student with St. Peter's.
“We offer all the support they need and hope that this conviction will bring them the righteousness they deserve.”
