School worker who attempted to grope colleague is struck off

SCHOOL support worker attempted to grope a colleague’s nipples and genitals at work declaring “I can give a good massage”, a professional standards hearing has been told.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Jason King later attempted to kiss another colleague while pressing up close among other instances of his sexual misconduct at Caldicot School.

King was struck off the professional register after a raft of allegations of sexualised comments and actions made towards colleagues were found proved by the Education Workforce Council Wales panel.

He admitted to an earlier internal school investigation that he had had “tweaked” or “flicked a... colleague's nipples’ but dismissed it as “boys being boys; the EWC’s fitness to practise committee was told.

King told the school he had gestured towards his colleague's midriff, but not their private parts - but the committee found it proved he had done more.

An Estyn report earlier this year highlighted safeguarding concerns, among other issues, at Caldicot School as it placed it in the second highest level of monitoring.

A few months after this incident, King, who started working at Caldicot School in February 2023, sent another colleague an inappropriate and/or unsolicited text or WhatsApp message, the panel heard.