Essex teacher banned over sexy beast colleague comment

A teacher has been banned from the profession indefinitely after a misconduct panel was told he inappropriately touched colleagues, made sexual comments and called one woman “a sexy beast”.

Leon Osbourne, 35, worked at Octavia House Schools in Essex between 2015 and 2023.

A panel at the Teaching Regulation Agency heard his actions included calling a colleague “hot stuff” and grabbing her bottom.

His conduct “demonstrated a disregard for the boundaries, judgment and self-restraint which the public is entitled to expect from a teacher,” the panel said, concluding he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

Concerns were first raised about Osbourne’s behaviour in October 2023. He first started working at the school as a support assistant and became an unqualified teacher the following year.

After the concerns were raised, the school started an internal investigation and referred the matter to the Teaching Regulation Agency.

The panel heard how members of staff felt uncomfortable, unsafe, and in some cases unable to speak out because they were new, or thought Osbourne held an important role at the school.

He had also been accused of questioning a woman about oral sex and attempting to kiss her.