A rugby coach has been banned from instructing after asking pupils for nude photos, knowledgeable listening to has been instructed.
Earlier this week an Training Workforce Council (EWC) health to practise committee was instructed a faculty rugby coach despatched inappropriate messages to pupils and requested them if they might ship him nude photos.
Gavin Williams, who was working as Aberdare Group Faculty’s head of rugby, was claimed to have messaged eight pupils through Instagram and Snapchat and made sexual feedback about their our bodies, in addition to sending them topless images of himself.
The health to practise committee was instructed that Mr Williams, who was a Welsh Rugby Union Hub officer on the time, had additionally taken a gaggle of feminine pupils to Aberavon seashore for a ‘college journey’ with out permission, after a rugby event was cancelled.
On Tuesday the committee was instructed he had pushed one woman to the opticians in the midst of the college day, earlier than later falsely claiming that she was his cousin.
The rugby coach was arrested in late 2019 on suspicion of sexual communication with a baby.
Gavin Williams, 34, requested woman pupils to ship him nude photos in secret messages, a misconduct panel has heard
The instructor is claimed to have requested one woman if she had a boyfriend, and instructed her to ship him photos ‘of her fairly face’ and ‘impolite ones of her boobs’
His cellphone was searched, with 1,200 messages downloaded from it, however South Wales Police later determined to not proceed with prosecution.
An inner inquiry was launched, however Mr Williams resigned from his place on the college – which he had held since 2014 – with speedy impact on April 19 2021, the day earlier than a deliberate disciplinary listening to was set to begin.
Among the many messages he despatched pupils, Mr Williams requested one woman if she had a boyfriend, and instructed her to ship him photos ‘of her fairly face’ and ‘impolite ones of her boobs’.
The listening to was instructed he later falsely instructed the identical woman that one other instructor on the college had ‘made feedback about her t**s and a**e’. This member of employees was questioned however was not topic to disciplinary processes – with the committee instructed that Mr Williams’ mendacity ‘may have ruined this instructor’s skilled popularity’.
Presenting officer Sara Lewis stated Mr Williams ‘denied 90% of the allegations,’ and had admitted his language was ‘inappropriate and silly,’ however insisted it was meant as ‘a little bit of banter’.
He additionally claimed the investigation was ‘a witchhunt,’ she instructed the listening to.
Williams was the top of rugby at Aberdare Group Faculty in South Wales (pictured)
On Thursday, January 13 the committee discovered quite a few the allegations to be proved, together with that Mr Williams despatched messages to at least one pupil asking her to ‘ship an image of her fairly face’.
The committee deemed it was inappropriate to ship such messages to a learner, and famous that a few of Mr Williams’ actions have been wholly inappropriate.
He additionally despatched one other message to a distinct learner stating: ‘The older boys should snap you up on a regular basis.’
A few of these messages have been stated to be despatched late at night time, and have been additionally deemed to be inappropriate.
Chair of the committee, Steve Powell, additionally mentioned the allegations surrounding the seashore journey which the committee discovered to be proved.
When requested if he thought the journey was mistaken, Mr Williams was stated to have responded: ‘By regulation of the college, sure. I do not suppose it was dangerous.
‘It was a great morale enhance – they loved it – my intentions have been in the fitting place. It was simply the mistaken factor to do actually.’
Mr Powell stated it was clear that a few of the messages exchanged with college students was for the sexual gratification of Mr Williams, as he was ‘asking for photos and asking about their relationship with boys.’
The committee heard that Mr Williams was by no means registered with the Training Workforce Council, however the allegations discovered proved have been deemed to fall considerably under the requirements anticipated of knowledgeable in a task equivalent to his.
Concluding the listening to on Friday, January 14 Mr Powell stated: ‘Mr Williams was discovered dishonest and confirmed a sexually motivated conduct of a sexual nature.’
The committee granted a prohibition order, which prevents Mr Williams from instructing in colleges in Wales.
His identify will likely be erased from the EWC register, however he could make an software to re-enrol in three years time.
The listening to was instructed he additionally has the fitting to enchantment the committee’s choice with the Excessive Courtroom.