He lost his job at Devonport High School for Girls due to allegations made by students that he had inappropriately touched their thighs and massaged their shoulders. Despite being arrested and charges later dropped by the police, his appeal against the dismissal was rejected.
An employment tribunal ruled that the school's investigation into the allegations was "wholly inadequate" and that it failed to provide a safe working environment for male staff. The tribunal found that the school had accepted the younger pupils' claims without proper questioning or exploring contrary evidence. During the tribunal, it was revealed that two older girls had admitted to fabricating the allegations "for fun," which the school appeared to ignore.
The judge criticized the school's handling of the case, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough and fair investigations when allegations are made against employees and the potential consequences of false accusations.