London -
A teacher took a 17-year-old schoolgirl to a country hotel on Valentine’s Day and returned to work with a love bite, a disciplinary hearing was told on Monday.
Peter Carless, 29, allegedly wooed the pupil in class before whisking her off for a night at the luxury retreat.
The information technology teacher is said to have persuaded her to join him at the £132-a-night hotel because he wanted a “relationship” with her.
Carless then discussed his love life with a colleague who reported him to superiors at the 1 000-pupil school.
The General Teaching Council of Wales Disciplinary Panel was told Carless confessed to another member of staff after his relationship with the girl came to an end.
School computer technician Darren Ferguson told the hearing: “He said ‘I’ve got something to say and you might hate me for it.’
“He told me of some events of him having a relationship with a pupil.
“Peter told me he wanted to get back with this girl but she had said no. I told him he shouldn’t as he would risk everything.”
But the panel heard Carless did resume the relationship, and arranged to take the girl 120km from the school in Cardiff to the four-star hotel in Gloucestershire. Ferguson continued: “He told me he was taking his girlfriend to the Hilton in Tewkesbury on Valentine’s Day and then on to Worcester together.
“The next week Peter came to my office and said he needed to wear his collar high. He then showed me a love bite on his neck. I felt disgusted.
“Peter told me he got more depressed on Wednesdays and Fridays because they were the days he taught the girl.”
The panel was told the girl admitted spending the night with a teacher at the Puckrup Hall Hilton but denied that they had had sex.
Carless was not charged in connection with the allegation.
Presenting officer Martin Jones told the hearing: “She said they had not had a sexual relationship but there had been kissing involved.”
Carless faces being struck off the teaching register if he is found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct at Cathays High School. He denies having an inappropriate relationship.
He admits being at the hotel in February 2008 but says he was not with the pupil. The hearing continues. - Daily Mail