A TEACHER faces being struck off after being found to have had a sexual affair with a 14-year-old pupil.

A tribunal heard last week that Marc Richardson, a former head of drama at Tottington High School, had engaged in sexual contact with one student and met with her under the school stage.

The 34-year-old, who lives off Moorbottom Road, Holcombe, admitted sending inappropriate and flirtatious messages, and he also told another pupil that she was “too attractive to teach”.

Mr Richardson, who has two children, resigned his position last May after an investigation was launched into his behaviour. He now faces being banned from teaching following the panel’s verdict that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

Police confirmed that he was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child at the time, but was later released without charge.

His legal representative told a professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) that he denied having a sexual relationship with the girl – referred to as ‘Pupil B’ – though he admitted several other allegations. Mr Richardson did not attend the hearing.

In January 2013, the teacher was given a final written warning by the school, where he was also a head of house, prohibiting physical or social media contact with pupils.

Mr Richardson admitted in a statement to the hearing that, in 2012, he had sent flirtatious messages to a student, Pupil A, via Twitter, told her she was ‘a nightmare to teach as she was so attractive’, and had touched her bottom with his hand.

Pupil B’s mother told the hearing that she had ‘niggling feelings’ about the teacher, and that her daughter had suddenly asked about the contraceptive pill.

A friend, Pupil C, gave evidence that Pupil B had told her that she had done ‘everything’ with her boyfriend, who she later admitted was Mr Richardson.

After also seeing Whatsapp messages between Pupil B and Mr Richardson that contained explicit references to sexual acts between them, the panel found that the allegation of sexual contact was proven and that his conduct was ‘sexually motivated’.

The panel concluded: “Mr Richardson’s behaviour is a serious abuse of his position of trust and shows a blatant disregard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being.

“Accordingly, the panel has no hesitation in concluding that Mr Richardson is guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.”

A Bury Council spokesman said: “An investigation was carried out in May 2014 into a safeguarding allegation concerning a teacher at Tottington High School.

“The teacher was suspended from duty with immediate effect and resigned from his post.

“Following an investigation by the council and the school, we referred the former employee to the National College for Teaching and Leadership and also to the Disclosure and Barring Service, which has now resulted in this determination by the NCTL.”

A police spokesman confirmed: “A full investigation was conducted by the Greater Manchester police public protection investigation unit and the man was released without charge.”

Mr Richardson declined to comment.