A FORMER Eton College teacher who engaged in sexual activity with a child on eight occasions has been banned from classrooms for life.

Matthew Mowbray, of Locks Heath, Southampton, was a geography teacher at the prestigous boarding school in Windsor.

He also admitted to six offences of making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children between July 14, 2019 and May 23, 2019 and one offence of voyeurism, recording a person doing a private act on May 23, 2019.

Thames Valley Police arrested Mowbray on May 17, 2019, on suspicion of sexual assault. He was released on police bail.

At a hearing at Reading Crown Court, Mowbray admitted downloading hundreds of indecent images of children, as well as superimposing pupils' faces on to the naked bodies of unknown children on his computer.

A jury of six men and six women found Mowbray guilty on eight of the charges and not guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child against a girl.

Mowbray was referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency and in May 2022, a panel agreed he should be banned from teaching.

The former teacher said to the panel: "Given that I have been sent to prison, this is an open and shut case. I should not teach again'.”

The panel also reached their decision based on how the offences have affected pupils. The panel has observed, “that the behaviour involved in
committing the offences had significant effects on the pupils, which were described by the judge as 'lasting', including depression, anxiety, stress, nervousness, loss of confidence." 

When Mr Mowbray was arrested, the police found approximately 4,500 indecent images of children on his computer.

As regards the offence of voyeurism, this was described as Mr Mowbray covertly filming a child dressing or undressing in the privacy of his own room.

In making their decision, the panel found: “It is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession. 

"This means that Mr Matthew Mowbray is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

"Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Matthew Mowbray shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."