A Hornchurch man who told a child he wanted to join her in bed was a primary school teacher, it has been revealed.
Last May, this paper reported that Daniel Duhig had pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child – at the time we did not know that the 29-year-old was a teacher.
That fact came to light on Monday (August 17), when the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) published a report stating that Duhig had been banned from the profession following a misconduct hearing.
Duhig was previously employed as a Year 2 class teacher at Godwin Primary School in Dagenham.
His offending did not relate to any child at the school.
Between December 28, 2023, and January 5, 2024, Duhig sent messages to who he believed to be an underage girl.
The messages included asking her if she had a boyfriend, whether she was a virgin, and saying he would like to join her in bed.
Duhig was arrested on January 8, 2024, and the school was informed by the police.
He was placed on garden leave on January 17, 2024, and was dismissed four months later, the TRA report states.
The minutes of his disciplinary hearing state that Duhig "wanted to ask the school for another chance to continue with his career."
Duhig later pleaded guilty to the offence at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court and in May last year he was sentenced to six months' custody, suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
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A TRA panel said: "There was a strong public interest consideration in respect of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils.
"His actions raised obvious and significant public and child protection concerns."
Decision maker David Oatley concluded that Duhig should be banned from teaching in England indefinitely.
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