UK educating assistant banned from school rooms after telling college students he killed tons of of individuals
Scott Trigg-Turner made the inappropriate comments to a group of Year 8 students and made other claims about his background that colleagues became suspicious of
A teaching assistant who told a class of Year 8 students he had killed 250 people as a military sniper has been banned from classroom duties for two years.
Scott John Trigg-Turner, 44, boasted about his kill rate as a sniper in the US Marines and told kids he still owned a firearm, a professional standards hearing heard. Fellow colleague, Sharon Davies, told the panel Trigg-Turner had claimed he was a Lord, had received an MBE and had shaken hands with the King.
But the Education Workforce Council Wales panel in Cardiff heard Ms Davies, a learning support assistant, had become suspicious about the stories Trigg-Turner had shared with pupils at Bassaleg School in Newport, South Wales, particularly that he had served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, despite being too young to do so.
Trigg-Turner – who claimed he had the codename “Kill Switch” – denied acting unprofessionally and claimed his comments had been “misinterpreted”. In an email to the hearing, Mr Trigg-Turner said: “I have been diligent in my transparency in all interactions with pupils.
“I have never crossed professional boundaries and would never do so. I feel targeted and singled out.
“It is not fair to be singled out.” Trigg-Turner, who is a notable Welsh international wheelchair rugby player, was not present at the hearing, had no legal representation and made no formal response to the allegations.
The hearing was also told he had frequently arrived late and left class early without agreement and gave colleagues inconsistent explanations about how he came to be in a wheelchair.
During a school investigation, he denied possessing a gun at home or making such claims.
He said references to the military were about family members and maintained that his comments had been misinterpreted.
After leaving Bassaleg School, Trigg-Turner worked at Cardiff and Vale College but was removed from the EWC register for roles as a learning support worker in both schools and FE colleges.
Panel chair Helen Beard-Robbins described his misconduct as “sustained and deliberate,” noting “deep-seated attitudinal problems” reflected in the lies he told pupils, colleagues, and his line manager.
The panel decided Trigg-Turner may not seek reinstatement for two years, though he has the right to appeal the decision to the High Court within 28 days.
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