Teacher banned over pen with hidden camera

A teacher who gave a pupil a pen with a hidden camera and encouraged her to change clothes before using it has been banned indefinitely from the profession.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found the actions of Matthew Udall, 33, "were sexually motivated and had the potential to cause serious harm to the pupil".

The former science teacher, who was teaching at a Warwickshire school, had encouraged the student to change her clothes before writing in a journal at home with the pen.

He was arrested in July 2022 and convicted two years later after pleading guilty to inciting or causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to observe a person doing a private act.

The panel noted there was "no indication Mr Udall had succeeded in his attempt, but his intentions were clear from the conviction he received".

According to the TRA decision, the pupil spotted the camera lens on the pen and confided in a friend and another teacher, who informed the head teacher.

He was eventually sentenced to 31 months in prison.

The panel said that it "was not provided with any evidence to demonstrate that Mr Udall had shown insight and remorse in relation to his conduct", and "sought to conceal" his actions by telling the pupil to "exclude their parent".

It recommended a prohibition order be "imposed with immediate effect" with no provision for a review period as it was "unable to say with any degree of certainty that there was a low risk of Mr Udall repeating his actions".

David Oatley, acting on behalf of the secretary of state, agreed with the panel's recommendations owing to the serious nature of the offence, "the lack of evidence of insight and remorse, and the risk of repetition".

Udall may appeal the order to the High Court within 28 days.

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