A former mayor convicted of sexual assault failed to disclose his arrest and subsequent conviction to his employer, a professional standards hearing has heard. Andrew James, a former Labour town councillor and mayor for Maesteg, also worked as a classroom learning support worker at Caerau Primary, Bridgend. He was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in an incident at The Federation bar in December 2023.
Background and Professional Obligations
James, who was mayor for Maesteg town council from 2022-23 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 former mayor, who had worked at Caerau Primary for 10 years, went off sick after being charged with sexual assault on December 19, 2023, a fitness to practise committee of regulator the Education Workforce Council Wales heard.
Rather than report his arrest and charge, James claimed to his headteacher Julia Roche at the start of the new term that he needed time off for a bad back, the hearing, held virtually on July 7, was told. James was signed off on full pay for six months and half pay for 12 months. During this time he had wellbeing check-ins, Ms Roche told the hearing. Despite knowing he was required to do so, James did not tell his employer about his arrest or update them on the matter.
Police Involvement and Court Proceedings
Police informed the local education authority, but the learning support officer and former mayor knew it was also his duty to inform the school, Ms Roche said. Later the matter came into the public domain, was talked about in the community, and the court case was reported on by WalesOnline when it came to court in 2025, the headteacher told the committee. 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, 2025.
The then 52-year-old, of Hermon Road, Caerau, Maesteg, was ordered to register with the police for five years and was also given a community order to participate in activities for a maximum of 15 days. He was also required to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
Hearing and Allegations of Dishonesty
James was not present and not represented at the EWC hearing on June 7. That means the allegations against him were taken as denied, including that his actions in not informing EWC of his arrest and conviction for sexual assault were dishonest and amounted to unacceptable professional conduct. Setting out the case, Joanna Wilkins, EWC presenting officer, said that during an internal investigation the former mayor and classroom helper accepted he had not told the school, as he should have done, about his arrest nor updated his employer. She said: "He accepted not telling the school and said he was embarrassed and ashamed for what he had done."
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". Ms Wilkins said the former mayor had described it as a difficult time and he "deeply regretted" his actions. He felt "confusion and fear" while the legal process was "still uncertain". But the hearing heard he had ample opportunity to tell the school, the legal process was clear, and this was a serious case where a victim was affected. James had breached the EWC code of conduct in a number of areas, Ms Wilkins told the hearing.
Character References and Impact on School
Asked about James' character and work, Ms Roche said she had worked with him for the 10 years he had been at Caerau Primary, first as his colleague and then as his manager as headteacher. He had a "good rapport with the children" and was a "bubbly" presence in the school, she said. James had been supportive of the teacher in the classroom he worked in with children with emotional difficulties. He had training on safeguarding and school procedures and would have known it was required of him to tell managers that he had been arrested and to update them on the matter, the headteacher said.
Ms Roche said despite the former classroom helper's actions, the school had not suffered any reputational damage as he was known more for being a public figure than his work in the school. "Despite (him) not reporting the issue people were discussing it in the community, but I do not think the school suffered any reputational damage," she said. "Even though there was some talk in the community, it is a close-knit community and people were speaking about him as an individual and the school was not being discussed because he had other roles in the community. He was a councillor and former mayor and these roles were at the forefront of discussion more than his role in the school."
However, she said James' failure to inform her of his arrest fell "well below expectations" and she had been left to find out "second hand". He was eventually suspended a year after being charged, but before his case came to court. Asked by the committee whether James would have been suspended earlier had he not been on agreed sick leave, Ms Roche replied: "Yes." Asked whether she had had any previous concerns about James, the headteacher said she had not. He had been caring to the children and a supportive member of staff, she said. "Some female members of staff had shared their concerns with the previous head teacher about his conduct outside school," Ms Roche added. The hearing continues.
