'Predatory' head teacher struck off after exposing himself in school

A head teacher from Swansea who exposed himself to members of staff in school and while on a school trip has been banned from working in schools in Wales for at least 15 years.

James 'Jamie' Richards was head of Cadle Primary School in Swansea from 2011 to 2021.

Richard's behaviour was described as "predatory" and "sexualised" with the father-of-two banned from working in maintained or non-maintained schools after a professional standards panel found all allegations against him to be proven.

During the four-day hearing, former and current staff described how his actions had left numerous women traumatised. Panel chair Sue Davies said Richard's behaviour was "harassing, abusive, and predatory".

Richards did not appear at the Education Workforce Council (EWC) hearing - the professional regulator for the education staff in Wales - nor was he represented, and he did not respond to the allegations against him.

As such, all allegations were taken as denied by the panel, which found Richard's conduct in exposing himself was sexual in nature, or sexually motivated, and that his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.

The hearing was told the women were left "shocked", "numb", and "frightened" by Richard's actions.

One member of staff was called to his office to find him standing next to his desk with his trousers and pants pulled down, while another said he showed explicit pictures from his phone during a meeting.

On another occasion, he revealed a video of him caressing himself, the panel heard.

At times, he had appeared apologetic after an incident and was said to have told one female staff member he "can't help myself".

In total, five women who worked with Richards described that he had exposed himself to them, leaving them too scared to report him.

The hearing was told that Richards had not returned a laptop he was provided, as requested, during an internal investigation.

It was this laptop, the panel heard, which he used to show naked images of his genitals.

The women feared they would not be believed if they reported his actions - and one said she felt justified in that belief when South Wales Police were alerted but decided there was no criminal case to answer in late 2021, the panel was told.

She told the hearing she felt let down by the school and the police, and was very upset Richards had been able to resign from his post during an internal investigation after he was suspended in 2021.

She said she had felt silenced, while the man who exposed himself to her and others seemed to have "got away with it".

Chair Ms Davies said Richards had refused to be interviewed for the school's independent internal investigation in 2021.

He had also claimed through his union that he was unable to be interviewed owing to ill health affecting his cognitive and physical abilities.

However a Swansea Council fraud team followed Richards while he claimed to be ill and filmed him driving and going with a group of friends to play golf, the panel heard.

EWC presenting officer, Sara Lewis, said it was an aggravating feature that he not only abused his position of trust but also told his frightened victims not to say anything.

The panel said it did not have any information on his current work, or whether he intended to try to return to the teaching profession, but said they had no alternative but to strike him off the EWC register.

The panel ruled Richard cannot apply to be considered to be reinstated to the register until at least November 2040.

He has the right to appeal against the decision to the High Court within 28 days.

South Wales Police have been approached for comment.