A former mayor and classroom support worker who was convicted of sexual assault has been struck off the professional education register for not telling the school where he worked about his arrest and conviction.
Background of the Case
Andrew James, a former Labour town councillor and mayor for Maesteg, worked at Caerau Primary in Bridgend from 2015 to 2025. He was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in an incident at The Federation bar in December 2023 but did not tell his employer as required. He instead called in sick, saying he had a bad back and was off on full pay for six months and half pay for six months.
Failure to Notify Employer
James, who was mayor for Maesteg town council from 2022 to 2023 before losing his seat in 2024 after failing to attend a meeting for six months, was under a professional obligation to inform his school employer when he was first arrested. But the school was left to find out "second hand". The matter was talked about in the community, the court case was reported by WalesOnline, and the police and local education authority informed his employer later, the panel heard.
Court Proceedings
James, who had represented the Caerau ward for the local town council, pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault and was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on March 25 last year. The then 52-year-old, of Hermon Road, Caerau, Maesteg, was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for five years, given an 18-month community order, and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
EWC Panel Decision
Finding him guilty of allegations he was convicted of and not informing his employer, the EWC panel - sitting remotely on July 7 and 8 - found his actions were dishonest and amounted to unacceptable professional conduct. James had not engaged with the EWC process and had shown scant evidence of remorse or regret, panel chair Steve Powell said.
Prohibition Order Imposed
The panel imposed a prohibition order removing James from the EWC register to work. The EWC is required to put a time limit on such orders, after which the person may apply to re-register, although that is not guaranteed. The panel ruled James cannot apply to be restored to the register for three years and nine months, to coincide with the end of the period he was required by court, when convicted, to sign the Sex Offender Register.
Panel's Reasoning
Announcing the panel's findings, Mr Powell said the committee had taken into account James' previously unblemished record and comments from his headteacher that he had been a good educator. However, he had not engaged in the EWC process or provided any character references. James' actions and conviction were "fundamentally incompatible with Mr James continuing to be a registered person". His failure to inform his school had continued over a prolonged period and his conviction was for a serious offence, the panel concluded.
"Mr James' actions were deliberate and a serious departure from professional standards expected," Mr Powell added. "He has shown limited insight, regret or remorse, which was a significant concern."
James's Response and Appeal Rights
James had said he was "devastated" to be charged with sexual assault and "could not bring himself to type a message or email the school". He has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
