Teaching assistant despatched Snapchat message to woman saying ‘I need to see that physique’
Samuel Davies, who worked at Haverfordwest High sent one message saying: ‘Oh hey, I am your teacher. Don’t tell anyone, I would get into trouble, but I think you’re really attractive’
A school teaching assistant contacted two pupils via social media, requesting one to send intimate photographs and telling another he was attracted to her. Samuel Davies, who was employed at Haverfordwest High, instructed one girl in her mid-teens to keep quiet about his message after he sent her a friend request on Snapchat using an unrecognisable name.
He approached another teenage pupil, referred to as Learner B, asking if she would be comfortable sharing pictures of herself, according to a professional standards panel. “I want to see that body (smiling emoji) and a few pix maybe? xx,” Davies wrote in one message.
He then sent a follow-up asking: “asking you for pix and stuff, you cool with that kind of thing or are you not really into it?,” reports Wales Online.
When another girl, known as Pupil A, accepted his Snapchat request, she was stunned to receive a message from Davies. The message stated: “Oh hey, I am your teacher. Don’t tell anyone, I would get into trouble, but I think you’re really attractive.”
The teaching assistant, who was working under an apprenticeship programme with agency Ap Prentis, sent the friend requests on Snapchat using the alias “Sam Bear Davies”, the Education Workforce Council Wales panel heard.
Davies, a former student of the now defunct Sir Thomas Picton High, which combined with Tasker Milward School to form Haverfordwest High in 2018, was removed from the school grounds when pupils disclosed the messages in October 2022.
The panel, which convened virtually from December 8 to December 11, also learned that there had been earlier grievances, including allegations that Davies provided underage students with puffs from a vape away from school property.
He had additionally forwarded photos of himself vaping in the school’s disabled toilet to Pupil B. On a separate occasion, he was spotted in the school’s sixth form section, where he had no business being, discussing with a female pupil which pubs and clubs she could access whilst under-18.
During her testimony at the four-day hearing, Pupil B revealed that Davies’ messages left her feeling uneasy and she felt “mortified” sharing it at the hearing.
The committee determined that Davies’ conduct in messaging the girls was sexual in character and sexually driven. Despite cautions from the school’s deputy head and safeguarding lead, Tracy Edwards, regarding his overly familiar behaviour with students, it progressed to messaging pupils.
His conduct had directly affected pupils and he was aware his actions were inappropriate, stated chair Robert Newsome.
Providing testimony at the hearing’s outset, Mrs Edwards revealed she had participated in the recruitment process for Davies’ appointment. He had integrated well, shown initiative and was well-regarded in his role, which commenced in January 2022.
Nevertheless, in September 2022 she had been compelled to address him repeatedly regarding professional boundaries following hearsay complaints.
These allegations included claims he offered youngsters vapes just beyond the school grounds, though CCTV evidence failed to support this assertion.
There were also reports he had been overheard telling a student “you look good” and suggesting to others they meet up for a “sesh”, or similar words, the panel heard.
Davies’ appearance had also altered and he sported an earring with his sleeves rolled up to display tattoos, Mrs Edwards stated. But it wasn’t until the schoolgirls shared screenshots of the social media messages he sent that a formal complaint was made and he was ordered to leave the site whilst an investigation commenced.
Davies stepped down in January 2023, with police also examining the matter but taking no further action, the hearing was informed.
Davies failed to participate in the EWC hearing, was absent and had no legal representation, meaning all charges were treated as contested, Mr Newsome explained.
After establishing numerous allegations against Davies were substantiated, the committee determined they constituted unacceptable professional conduct, with some of the proven charges being sexually motivated and of a sexual nature. Mr Newsome revealed that Davies had previously maintained a clean record with no EWC sanctions to his name.
He explained: “This was a pattern that started after Samuel Davies was employed. Samuel Davies knew what he was doing was wrong. He took steps to conceal by messaging Learner A that she must not tell anyone about this message “or I wil get into trouble”.
“He did not engage with the EWC and there is no evidence of insight, regret or remorse.”
Mr Newsome highlighted that Davies’ conduct had directly affected pupils and their welfare, describing him as having “deep seated attitudinal problems that could be a significant risk to learners”.
Davies had exploited his position of authority and specifically targeted children under 16.
“It is particularly concerning that Davies put his own sexual interests first with no thought of the impact of his behaviour on learners,” Mr Newsome stated.
The committee permanently removed Davies from the EWC register, ruling that he cannot seek reinstatement for five years.
Davies retains the right to lodge an appeal with the High Court within 28 days.
