Jacques Lodewyck Du Plessis, a former design and technology teacher at John Lyon School in Harrow, has been banned from teaching for life by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) after being convicted of grooming and sexually assaulting a child. The 51-year-old, of Newport, was sentenced to eight years and three months in April last year following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. His convictions included meeting a child after grooming, making and distributing indecent photographs of a child, and three counts of sexual activity with a child. None of the offences involved a pupil from the school where he worked.
Details of the Offences
The court heard that Du Plessis began communicating with the victim on Snapchat before arranging to meet him in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Over several days, he sexually assaulted the boy multiple times at different locations and recorded one incident on his phone, according to the TRA report. At the time of his arrest in May 2024, Du Plessis was employed at John Lyon School, a prestigious private school in Harrow-on-the-Hill, where he had worked since September 2022. The school suspended him immediately upon learning of his arrest and terminated his employment 11 days later.
Disturbing Items Found Under Desk
Although Du Plessis's crimes did not occur at the school and his victim attended a different school, a box containing a bondage kit, sex toys, and a pair of child's boxer shorts was found under his desk at John Lyon School. The TRA panel noted that these items raised safeguarding concerns, indicating "the potential for harm for pupils in the school within which he taught." The panel emphasized the seriousness and gravity of his conduct in its ruling.
School's Response
A spokesperson for John Lyon School stated: "We are aware of the verdict of the TRA hearing relating to a former member of staff. The individual was employed by the school several years ago. The matter in question relates to an incident entirely unconnected to the school, its pupils or the local community. The individual is no longer employed by the school. At the time, the school fully cooperated with the police investigation, which did not involve the school. Safeguarding remains our highest priority and appropriate procedures were followed throughout. As the hearing has now concluded, we will not be commenting further."
Lifetime Ban and No Review
The TRA panel's ruling bans Du Plessis from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children's home in England. He is also not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. The report stated: "The panel had regard to the gravity of the offending, noting that Mr Du Plessis had been convicted of multiple serious sexual offences, including grooming, engaging in sexual activity with a child and making and distributing indecent images. The offending was deliberate, repeated and took place over a significant period of time, involving knowingly engaging sexually with a child. In light of the absence of insight or remorse, the seriousness and sustained nature of the offending, and the associated potential risk of repetition, the panel concluded that public confidence in the profession would be seriously undermined if a review period were allowed." Du Plessis has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and has a right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days of receiving notice of the order.
