Disgraced Dudley teacher who had '101-day Snapchat streak' with child banned for life

A Dudley primary school teacher who engaged in a '101-day Snapchat streak' with a child has been banned from teaching for life. Ashley Nixon, 31, was found to have sent sexually explicit photos to two former pupils, and to have asked for an illicit image from one.

He was employed at Peters Hill Primary School, Brierley Hill, at the time of the allegations. He was suspended from the school in October 2021 following claims he had been communicating with former pupils from the school on social media.

A Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel heard Nixon regularly communicated with the pair, sending both explicit photos. The panel ruled his actions amounted to 'misconduct of a serious nature' and banned him from teaching for life.

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'101-day Snapchat streak'

He worked at Peters Hill between 2016 and 2022. In September 2021, he was interviewed by West Midlands Police following allegations he sent inappropriate messages to two children.

The investigation was closed with no further action in March 2022, but the matter was referred to the TRA that October. The panel heard the two children became 'friends' with Nixon on Snapchat.

He developed a '101-day streak' with one child, who was referred to as Child 2 in the hearing. This meant they had sent an image or message to each other every day for 101 days.

The panel was also provided with photographs of the call log between another child, who was referred to as Child 1, and Nixon which noted '17 video or audio calls from or to him over a four-day period.' He told the hearing he 'reluctantly' accepted a request to exchange numbers with Child 1 while at a football match, as he did not wish to 'upset' them.

He acknowledged it was 'inappropiate' to be in contact with the children, but said his communications were always 'appropriate in nature.'

Child received image of 'man lying on his front showing bare buttocks'

The panel considered allegations Nixon sent illicit photographs and videos to both children. The panel heard how Child 1 received a 'picture of a man lying on his front showing his bare buttocks' as well as a video 'showing a pair of boxers being opened' - both of which she knew to be from him.

Child 2 told police that Nixon sent three or four different photographs of his buttocks to them on separate occasions, the panel heard. At the outset of the hearing, Nixon admitted to sending a photograph of his buttocks, and a video of his genitals, to Child 1 but maintained 'he had done so in error'. He denied sending explicit images to Child 2.

In respect of Child 1, Nixon claimed the messages were intended for an adult female friend. He claimed he 'rushed' and clicked one name down from the intended recipient. But the panel did not accept he had sent the messages inadvertently, saying he was a 'experienced Snapchat user' who was 'aware' he had underage children as friends on Snapchat.

The panel also noted the photograph and video would have needed to be sent separately, making it 'implausible' that Nixon would be 'so reckless as to send two inappropriate images to the wrong recipient.' The panel also found Nixon guilty of sending explicit pictures to Child 2, adding it was 'more likely than not' he also asked them to send him an 'image' of their bottom.

The panel also found Nixon guilty of inviting both pupils to 'see his new home'. Neither of them attended.

Mr Nixon showed 'limited insight or remorse'

After finding all the allegations proven, the panel ruled Nixon's actions amounted to 'both a failure to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and inappropriate contact'. His messages were 'inherently sexual in nature' and his conduct fell 'significantly short of the standards expected of the profession', panel members decided.

Despite hearing 'positive comments' from Nixon's character references describing him as a 'honest' and 'dedicated' educator, the panel was of the view that he had shown 'limited insight or remorse' into his actions, meaning there was a risk of repetition. The panel, on behalf of the Secretary of State, decided he should never be allowed to teach again.

Nixon was banned from teaching on October, 29 2024.