Foul-mouthed college teacher, 61, swore in class, called student ‘a paedophile’ and said one woman would ‘love a sh*g’, misconduct panel hears
- Richard Lewis is accused of foul remarks at Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire
- Media teacher said to have called student a ‘paedophile’ and swore several times
- Alleged to have made sexist remarks and called one woman a ‘slapper’
- Panel at Education Workforce Council will to decide if he should be struck off
Media teacher Richard Lewis, 61, is accused of repeatedly calling one student ‘a paedophile’ and saying ‘f***, s*** and c*ap’ in class
A foul-mouthed teacher who faces being struck off swore in class and said a woman would ‘love a sh*g’, a misconduct panel has heard.
Media teacher Richard Lewis, 61, is accused of repeatedly calling one student ‘a paedophile’ and saying ‘f***, s*** and c*ap’ in class.
The veteran teacher, who works at Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire, allegedly made a series of sexist remarks including saying: ‘Look at the size of her tits. I bet she’d love a sh*g,’ and calling one woman a ‘slapper’.
Mr Lewis also told students how he once danced on stage ‘with a jock strap and pigs head and fired fireworks from his crotch,’ the panel heard.
Presenting officer Ashanti-Jade Walton said an investigation into Mr Lewis began when the mum of one student known as Learner J complained of his sexist language in class.
Miss Walton said: ‘The complaint concerned sexist remarks allegedly made by the registered person. They did not give examples of the comments but said they made Learner J feel uneasy.’
Mr Lewis was Creative Media course leader at Coleg Sir Gar when he was investigated by his former line manager Nikki Neale in April 2019.
Miss Walton said: ‘Nikki Neale spoke with a number of learners and a number of additional concerns came to light regarding the registered person’s conduct.’
Miss Walton said the report found that, ‘on or around March 2019 he made a derogatory and or sexist comment to learner J’.
The veteran teacher, who works at Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire (pictured), allegedly made a series of sexist remarks including saying: ‘Look at the size of her tits. I bet she’d love a sh*g,’ and calling one woman a ‘slapper’
‘On one or more occasions he made comments referring to Learner E as a paedophile.’
‘On more than one occasion he swore in the presence of learners including the terms f**, s***, and c*ap.
‘Additionally it is alleged the registered person said “look at the size of her tits. I bet she’d love a sh*g” – and referred to a woman as a slapper.
‘He also recounted stories with explicit or inappropriate content to learners and that the behaviour alleged was inappropriate or offensive.’
The Education Workforce Council heard one charge against Mr Lewis says he told students ‘you had been on stage with a jock strap and pig head on, shooting fireworks from your crotch.’
He is also accused of telling stories involving naked dancers, intimate piercings and a man dancing with a catheter.
Nikki Neale told the hearing one student kept a diary and noted down Mr Lewis’ stories he told the class.
Ms Neale said: ‘She recounted a number of graphic stories that Richard Lewis had told the class.
‘Richard Lewis told the class a story about a students’ friend who “had their fanny pierced with a self-piercing kit”.
‘Richard went on to tell the learners about a show he had attended where he saw a man dancing with a catheter in and described how the man’s nurse held the catheter bag.
‘Richard Lewis said he saw another man who had cock piercings and was placing an angle grinder on the piercing to make it look like sparks were coming off his cock.
‘He said the same man clamped weights onto his balls and started swinging them around.’
Ms Neale said she asked the girl how the conversation started.
‘She explained that Richard Lewis was talking about nights out and started to tell them stories from his past when he was in a band.
‘I asked her if she felt safe in his class and she said she did – but she said she did not feel comfortable.’
Ms Neale said she made a report into the complaints from students including his ‘graphic’ stories.
She said: ‘I was concerned there was no academic context for these conversations and therefore no justification for Richard Lewis to raise this topic.
‘The language he used was particularly graphic and the content was completely inappropriate for discussion in a classroom setting.’
Ms Neale said she also investigated sexist comments allegedly made to Learner J.
She said: ‘She described an occasion when she asked Mr Lewis if she could get a plaster as she had worn the wrong socks with her boots.
‘Richard Lewis responded by saying: “This is why women won’t be doing the jobs they want, because they all turn up in ridiculous stiletto heels and end up walking barefoot because of it – it’s also why women won’t get equal rights with wages.”
‘I was concerned by this comment as it demonstrates a lack of respect towards women and undermines a learner who should not be judged by what she chooses to wear.’
Ms Neale said another student – known as Learner E – was labelled ‘a paedophile’ by Mr Lewis because of his work as a children’s swimming instructor.
Ms Neale said: ‘He explained he needed to sometimes leave college early to go to work and when he asked Richard Lewis if this was ok Richard would say ‘off you go being a paedophile’.
‘He said Richard Lewis would say this in front of the class.
‘They undermined the learner making him feel embarrassed and anxious it was a completely inappropriate comment to make.’
Mr Lewis – a teacher for almost 30 years – admits swearing and making sexist remarks but denies the comments about breasts and telling the students about dancing on stage.
He admits unacceptable professional conduct and faces being struck from the teaching registers.
The hearing, held via Zoom, continues.
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