A SCIENCE teacher has been given an indefinite ban from the classroom for sending inappropriate messages to a pupil - including references to her bra size.

David Fishwick, 25, who taught at St Christopher's High School in Accrington between September 2015 until June 2017, sent a number of sexually-suggestive messages to the pupil between March 2017 to April 2018 using his school and personal email accounts.

The earliest Mr Fishwick could return to the profession is any capacity is 2023.

Among the messages he sent "Pupil A" as she is described in the Professional Conduct panel's report, were references to her bra size and sexual history.

Other messages included: "'I’d love to see you drunk"; "Will be thinking about you all Easter"; and "Wish I could give you a hug without it being weird."

On numerous occasions, the pupil rebuffed his advances, saying: "Don’t message me anymore. I’m only gonna say this once. I don’t think u should email me anymore. It’s getting too far’.

She also replied: "I think these convos are gonna have to stop gonna look well weird on school email’; "I don’t want to have this conversation" and "Sir not a question you should ask a pupil."

In the report, following the hearing in Coventry, Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) chief executive Alan Meyrick said he was satisfied that all the allegations against Mr Fishwick had been proven and found that those proven facts amount to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

The panel has made a recommendation to the Secretary of State Damian Hinds that Mr Fishwick should be the subject of a prohibition order, with a review period of five years.

Mr Fishwick stated in the report: "I look back on the situation I put myself and others in with whole-hearted contrition and remorse, having caused deep embarrassment and hurt for myself and others.

"I am sorry for the situation which has arisen to all who are and have been involved."

In its conclusions, the panel has observed: “Mr Fishwick used Pupil A’s vulnerability to cultivate an intense emotional dependence on him which he used to attempt to exploit Pupil A into participating in conversations of a sexual nature.

"The conversations also included ‘advice’ to Pupil A which could be seen to encourage harmful behaviour both within and outside of school.”

Richard Jones, headteacher at St. Christopher's Church of England High School, Accrington, said: "This hearing marks the end of a long process. We acted quickly and Mr. Fishwick was suspended from school with immediate effect as soon as allegations came to light in April 2017. We immediately referred the matter to Lancashire police for investigation.

"Mr. Fishwick was dismissed during the disciplinary process that took place and the case was also referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency.

"We have moved on as a school as we continue to work together, building a community in which all of our pupils can flourish and excel.”