A teacher, who was head of behaviour and safeguarding at a large secondary school, went off sick rather than tell his school he was going to court on a charge of threatening behaviour. David Sweet was caught out years later when he was summoned to court again for a further offence of drink driving.
Sweet, who was found guilty and convicted of both offences, taught at Ysgol John Bright in Llandudno at the time. He was Head of KS4 behaviour and safeguarding as well as a PE teacher at the school, where he had been employed since 2005.
Sweet resigned last year after being found not to have informed the school about the first conviction for threatening/abusive words/behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment/alarm. A professional standards panel, sitting remotely on October 2 and 3, heard Sweet had taught at the school since 2005, and had held senior positions, so knew he must disclose convictions. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
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But he had rung in sick to twice be off to attend court on the first conviction of threatening/abusive behaviour. The truth of this emerged when he did disclose the drink driving to headteacher Hywel Parry. Confirming that he had received a conviction for drink driving, Sweet told Mr Parry and he made a self-referral to the EWC in September, 2022, the professional standards committee heard.
But during the investigation, the EWC found that, although the school was aware of the later conviction, it was not previously aware of the earlier conviction. When the school checked Sweet’s attendance record, it was found that he had reported sickness absence on both occasions, when he had in fact attended court.
The EWC hearing was told that both convictions had “put the public at risk” and on the drink driving charge his car hit a hedge and he fled the scene. Joanna Wilkins, presenting officer for the EWC, said that on the previous matter of using aggressive or abusive behaviour, for which he also pleaded guilty, members of the public and police had had to intervene.
Committee chair Helen Beard-Robbins said that while both offences happened during Sweet's private life and off school premises, there was “a potential for serious harm to be caused to the public” and a “breach of trust”. She said Sweet’s actions could bring the profession into disrepute.
Sweet admitted all the allegations against him, attended the hearing and was represented, but the panel agreed to take his evidence behind closed doors. Before hearing from the teacher in private the panel announced it had found all allegations against him proved and that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
The allegations found proved by the EWC fitness to practise hearing were:
1. On 18 June 2018, Sweet was convicted at Cheshire Magistrates Court of using threatening/abusive words/behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment/alarm on 25 March 2018 and fined £225.
2. On 30 June 2022, Sweet was convicted at North East Wales Magistrates Court of driving a vehicle with excess alcohol on 1 June 2022. On July 21 2022, he was disqualified from driving for 24 months and fined £1,071.
3. These convictions were ‘relevant offences’ in that they had material relevance to his fitness to be a registered teacher.
4. On or around July 15 2016 and/or 18 June 2018, Sweet provided inaccurate information to the school about the reasons for his absence from work and reported he was unwell, when he was attending court.
5. On or around July 15 2016 and/or June 18 2018, Sweet failed to disclose to tell the school he had received a criminal conviction.
6. The conduct at 4 and/or 5 was dishonest; and/or demonstrated a lack of integrity.
The committee judged that being convicted of threatening/abusive behaviour and not informing the school of that was dishonest/showed lack of integrity and this amounted to unacceptable professional conduct individually or together.
He had caused damage to property and risk of serious injury. In his favour the committee chair said Sweet had engaged with proceedings, admitted the allegations. attended the hearing and showed remorse and insight. He had taken “significant rehabilitative action to turn his life around”, “cares deeply about the profession” and was of value to it.
The panel imposed a reprimand on Sweet’s registration as a teacher. That will remain on his record for two years and must be disclosed, but means he can continue teaching. He has a right to appeal the decision within 28 days to the High Court.
