Man who tapped colleague on the bottom claimed it was 'a bit of banter'

A college carpentry supervisor who "slapped" or "tapped" a colleague on the bottom excused his behaviour as "a laugh and a bit of banter". It later emerged that Antony Morris also failed to disclose convictions for destroying or damaging property, when he applied to register with the Education Workforce Council Wales.

An EWC professional standards hearing on December 17 was told the "inappropriate touching" by Anthony Morris was among a raft of behaviour including failing to declare convictions, swearing at work, arriving late, leaving early and going absent. When challenged about the issues Morris told his manager Gavin Jones that he was finding it hard moving from being self employed to contracted full time work at Grwp Llandrillo, Coleg Menai, the panel heard.

Bryn Jenkins, also a carpentry workshop supervisor at the college, described to the hearing how he was demonstrating a task to a student when Morris pushed past him in a small gap and "tapped" or "slapped" him lightly on the behind. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.

"I was with "Learner A" when Antony Morris pushed passed me in a one metre gap and tapped me on the backside," Mr Jenkins told the panel. He said the action, which he also described as a "slap", made him feel uncomfortable and annoyed and he added: "I was taken aback. I asked what he was doing - I think he possibly laughed and apologised, but I don't remember."

Mr Jenkins said at a later time Morris came up and apologised and told him it was a "bit of banter". He said he appreciated Morris had worked on building sites before working at the college and that his technical skills were very good..

Asked to clarify whether it was a slap or a tap Morris gave him Mr Jenkins told the hearing: "The slap business is maybe me saying it wrong. A slap would be a heavy tap - it was more a tap than a slap".

He added that the touching had made him feel especially ""uncomfortable and annoyed" as Morris did it in front of a learner. He seemed to be telling him "I am here", Mr Jenkins added.

He was giving evidence after Gavin Jones, the line manager for Morris, told the hearing: "Around November 2022 Bryn Jenkins, a supervisor, reported that Anthony Morris slapped him on his bum in front of a learner."

Mr Jones also said that when challenged about this Morris told him it was "a laugh and a bit of banter" and that he was "struggling" with the move from self employment. He told the hearing that Morris had also sworn often, using the word f*** infront of staff and students.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (GLlM), where Morris was dismissed from his job following investigations into the allegations, is an umbrella organisation overseeing three FE colleges in North Wales: Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. It runs courses in Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd, is Wales's largest further-education (FE) institution and one of the largest FE college groups in the UK

Morris, who worked in the woodshop and carpentry section was based at Coleg Menai. He was was not present and not represented at the hearing, held virtually, on Tuesday December 17, therefore all the allegations against him are therefore taken as denied.

He faces the following allegations:

That as a (EWC) registered person” he is guilty of unacceptable professional conduct whilst employed as a Practical Skills Supervisor at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (‘the College’), and has been convicted of ‘a relevant offence’, in that:

1. In or around November 2022, he engaged in inappropriate physical contact with Colleague A in that he tapped their buttocks.

2. Between August 2022 and May 2023, he demonstrated poor timekeeping in that on more than one occasion, he:

a) arrived at the college later than your contracted start time;
b) left the college earlier than your contracted finish time;
c) did not promptly attend scheduled learner sessions to provide support to the teaching staff;
d) was unreliable in his attendance in that he had a high number of absences from work.

3. Between August 2022 and May 2023, he demonstrated poor maintenance of the workshop in that on more than one occasion, he left machines untidy.

4. On June 3 2022, he submitted an application to the EWC to register in the category of further education learning support worker, and indicated in the declarations section that he did not have any convictions, when this was incorrect.

5. On October 2 2023, he submitted an application to the EWC to register in the category of work based learning practitioner, and indicated in the declarations section that he did not have any convictions, when this was incorrect.

6. His conduct at paragraphs 4 and 5 was:

a) dishonest; and/or
b) lacking in integrity.

7. On 21 April 2017, he was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property, contrary to sections 1(1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. As a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, he was sentenced to a Community Order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018. He was further ordered to pay £281.75 in compensation.

8. On April 21 2017, he was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property, contrary to sections 1 (1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. As a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, he was sentenced to a Community Order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018.

9. On April 21 2017, he was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property, contrary to sections 1 (1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. As a consequence of this offence, on 28 April 2017, he was sentenced to a Community Order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018. He was further ordered to pay £458 in compensation.

10. On 21 April 2017, he was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property, contrary to sections 1 (1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. As a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, he was sentenced to a Community Order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018.

11. On 22 December 2017, he was convicted at North Wales Magistrates’ Court of failing to comply with the requirements of a Community Order made on April 28 2017 by failing to attend an appointment on November 27 2017, contrary to Part 2 of Schedule 8 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003. As a consequence of this offence, on December 22 2017, the original unpaid work requirement was to continue, and he was made subject to a two week electronic curfew requirement via electronic monitoring.

12. The facts of paragraphs 1 to 6 above constitute unacceptable professional conduct whenconsidered: a) individually; and/or b) together

13. The facts of paragraph 7 to 11 above constitute a relevant offence’ meaning a conviction in the UK for a criminal offence, other than one having no material relevance to a person’s fitness to be a registered person in the relevant category of registration”.

The hearing continues.

What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea