A primary school maths teacher has been banned from teaching after admitting to hacking into a colleague’s phone to find an intimate video. Brendon Fallows, 37, who had worked at Lady Bay Primary School near Nottingham for 10 years, attempted to send the video to himself on WhatsApp but was caught when the message failed to send, leaving his profile picture as a clue.
The incident, described as a violation of trust and privacy, occurred in October 2023. According to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel, Mr Fallows took the phone from the woman’s coat pocket while she was teaching his class. Using her date of birth, which he found on her Instagram account, he guessed her phone password and accessed her gallery.
Discovery of the crime
The junior female teacher, whose identity has been withheld, discovered the intrusion at 5.15pm when she checked her phone. She noticed an unsent WhatsApp message to an unfamiliar number, containing a video thumbnail showing skin, which she recognised as hers. Initially thinking it was a mistake, she realised the seriousness of the situation and deleted the message.
The woman identified Mr Fallows as the sender due to his WhatsApp profile picture, which she recognised despite it being an older image. Disturbed and “freaking out,” she reported the matter.
Admission of guilt
During the misconduct hearing, Mr Fallows admitted to his actions, stating he “allowed curiosity to be overtaken by adrenaline and a complete lack of judgement or awareness of impact and consequence.” He acknowledged the breach of trust and the distress caused to his colleague.
Explaining his actions, Mr Fallows admitted he “had some attraction to the woman” and acted on impulse when he saw her phone hanging from her coat pocket. He claimed he did not rummage or search but accessed the phone deliberately.
The panel heard that he tried to send a video to himself but failed. The TRA panel noted that his actions were premeditated, involving multiple steps to gain access to the phone, and could not be excused by personal or professional circumstances.
Impact on the victim
The panel highlighted the significant emotional and psychological impact of the incident on the victim. They stated:
“It is clear that Mr Fallows violated the trust and privacy of the victim, which will have caused a staggering amount of upset, anger and mistrust, as well as breaking the sense of safety in the workplace.”
The incident not only disrupted the victim’s sense of security but also damaged the professional environment at the school.
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Consequences
The TRA panel concluded that Mr Fallows’ behaviour constituted unacceptable professional conduct. They recommended a prohibition order, barring him from teaching with a review period of two years.
The panel stated:
“This behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a teacher. It demonstrates a lack of integrity and professionalism that undermines public confidence in the teaching profession.”
Community reaction
The incident has sparked widespread concern, with parents and staff expressing their shock. A parent at the school, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
“It’s horrifying to think this could happen in a place where we trust teachers to be role models for our children.”
Final remarks
This case underscores the importance of trust and ethical behaviour in the teaching profession. Mr Fallows’ actions not only betrayed his colleague but also damaged the reputation of a well-regarded primary school.
The ban serves as a stern reminder of the consequences of such violations, ensuring the safeguarding of trust and privacy in educational settings.
