The teacher who told the student, “You’re so fat, it’s a good job, you’re pretty,” was banned from the classroom

A TEACHER who told a student “You’re so fat, it’s a good job, you’re pretty” was banned from the classroom.

Paul Richardson, 29, allowed another girl to sit on his shoulders during a PE lesson and told her: “Nice sheer leggings you have there.”

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His vile behavior in 2017 came to light the following year when he befriended a third girl, only referred to as Student C, while she was taking her GCSEs.

After she left Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, they went for a walk and held hands before he kissed her.

He also gave her a house key, kissed and cuddled her when she got upset at his house, and sent WhatsApp messages saying he loved her and wanted to marry her.

A Teaching Regulation Agency hearing was told Mr Richardson did not deny the allegations.

Mr Richardson was employed by the school from September 2016 as a cover supervisor conducting teaching activities.

In December 2017, concerns about Mr Richardson’s conduct were raised by four female students. He was suspended for investigation.

However, the investigation found no evidence of professional misconduct. A letter containing advice and guidance from management has been served on Mr. Richardson.

On August 12, 2018, Mr. Richardson resigned. Two days later, the school was informed that a police report had been made about Student C on August 12.

The TRA hearing was told during a gym class that he allowed Student A to sit on his shoulders and told her, “Nice sheer leggings you have there.”

She later said, “It made me feel very uncomfortable and vulnerable.”

Another witness said: “Student A said she sat on Mr Richardson’s shoulders. I asked her why student A did this as I felt it was inappropriate.

“Student A said she didn’t know why and after thinking about it, she wasn’t happy that it happened.”

Another girl, Student B, told the school that Mr. Richardson “came out to speak to me. I said something I don’t remember, he replied “You’re so fat, it’s a good job, you’re pretty.”

While student B and a classmate were doing homework in an IT room during a GCSE-PE lesson. Mr. Richardson entered the classroom.

Student B said: “Mr Richardson said, ‘Oh look what I found’ and he took a copy of my Sims photo out of the back of his phone case, which could have been there for many days.

“I was shocked and didn’t really react, I just went back to my computer.”

In June 2018, Mr. Richardson met with Student C and took her for a walk. They held hands and he kissed her.

Once when she was upset at his house, he cuddled and kissed her. He sent her messages saying he loved her.

Richardson also admitted to police that he had given Student C a key to his home.

The panel noted that some of the allegations took place outside of school and when student C had left school after her GCSE exams.

Student C described the incidents as “still very traumatic” and Student A and Student B did not want to relive the events that took place.

The panel found that Mr. Richardson was unaware of the seriousness of his conduct and the serious safety issues involved.

Education Secretary John Knowles said the ban would last for at least 10 years because the panel’s findings concerned “sexually motivated behavior, the pattern of behavior towards teenage girls and lack of insight or remorse”.