A primary school teacher in Bristol has been indefinitely banned from the profession after sending videos of child abuse on social media. Michael Bright, 33, who taught at Little Mead Primary Academy, admitted three counts of distributing indecent images at Gloucester Crown Court in November 2021.
Bright was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, and given a five-year sexual harm prevention order. He was also placed on the sex offender's register for 10 years. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) conduct panel has now banned him from teaching with no right to reapply.
According to the TRA decision report, Bright joined a social network group interested in adult pornography, where indecent images became available to him. A group member asked for illegal material, and Bright sent four videos. He told the school during its disciplinary investigation that he 'didn't feel like myself as I did it' and expressed great remorse, insisting it was 'an entirely internet-based offence'.
The TRA panel noted that there was no evidence Bright understood the impact on child victims of sexual exploitation. TRA chief executive Marc Cavey said: 'The lack of full insight and remorse demonstrated, and particularly the lack of evidence that Mr Bright understands the potential real-world impact of his behaviour, means that there is some risk of repetition and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.'
