A former PE teacher at a south Essex primary school has been handed a lifetime teaching ban after he was convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children.

Michael Fogg, 32, has been banned from teaching indefinitely after a teacher misconduct hearing on May 22.

The Teaching Regulation Agency panel heard Fogg was convicted of two counts of distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, and one offence of possessing extreme pornographic images at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 23 last year.

Fogg was a teacher at Deneholm Primary School in Grays at the time of his arrest in July 2020, and had given his notice to leave the school to start work at a secondary school.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment which was suspended for 18 months, a 30 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, 150 hours unpaid work and a 7-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, on May 26 last year.

The panel noted a letter from Fogg on November 25 where he wrote: “Just to say sorry does not come close to explaining the feeling of remorse and regret I feel and I would do anything to rewind time and take everything back.”

He also acknowledged in the letter that his crimes were “disgusting”.

Considerable weight was placed on comments from the judge in last year's proceedings, who the report says described Fogg had “developed an addiction of some kind to indecent images of children.”

The hearing report added that he "found sexually enticing images of children aged, it seems, between about seven to 15."

Fogg has been banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

It was also decided that Fogg will not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

The report added: "In this case, factors mean that allowing a review period is not sufficient to achieve the aim of maintaining public confidence in the profession.

"These elements are the seriousness of the findings, involving making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image, and the lack of full insight and remorse."

A spokesman for Deneholm Primary School said: “We were made aware of Michael Fogg’s arrest in July 2020. We immediately suspended him and worked closely with the police and the local authority.

“At the time of his arrest and suspension from work, he had already resigned from his employment with us. He did not return to the school site and none of the charges brought against him related to his conduct at the school or to children at the school. 

“In line with national legal requirements, every member of staff is subject to rigorous enhanced safeguarding and background checks prior to their employment. Safeguarding remains our highest priority, and all reports no matter how small are dealt with robustly.”