Teacher at £30,000-a-year private school is struck off after abusing child he groomed on Snapchat

A teacher at a private school charging £30,000 annually has been permanently barred from teaching after being convicted of sexually assaulting a student he groomed through Snapchat. Jacques Du Plessis, who worked as a design and technology teacher at John Lyon School in Harrow-on-the-Hill, northwest London, was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison earlier this year for multiple offenses involving a minor. Du Plessis began working at John Lyon School in September 2022. The institution charges annual fees of up to £30,228. He initiated contact with the victim via Snapchat and arranged to meet him in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Over a few days, he sexually assaulted the boy on multiple occasions in various locations, including one instance where he recorded the act on his mobile device. Following his arrest in May 2024, authorities discovered sex toys, a bondage kit, and a pair of children’s boxer shorts hidden in a box beneath his desk at the school. Du Plessis was suspended immediately upon the school becoming aware of his arrest for sexual offenses against a child. In June 2024, he pleaded guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to meeting a child following grooming, creating indecent photographs of a child, distributing indecent photographs of a child, and three counts of sexual activity with a child. During the trial, he admitted to having “destroyed two families” and “devastated his career.” However, he claimed that he engaged in the grooming behavior solely for personal gratification. Du Plessis received an eight-year and three-month prison sentence in April 2025 after pleading guilty to the charges. His case was subsequently referred to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing, where he was formally struck off and prohibited from ever applying for teaching positions again. The TRA hearing was chaired by Shabana Robertson, who emphasized the severity of Du Plessis’ actions. She stated that the panel believed his behavior could undermine public confidence in the teaching profession due to the influence teachers hold over students, parents, and the broader community. The gravity of his convictions, sexual activity with a child, creation of indecent images of a child, and grooming, was deemed critical to public safety and the well-being of pupils. Robertson added that Du Plessis’ placement on the Sex Offenders Register and the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order underscored the seriousness of his conduct. She noted that the panel felt the need to address such behavior with the utmost seriousness to preserve public trust in the profession. The panel concluded that the public interest in protecting students and maintaining trust in the teaching profession outweighed any considerations regarding Du Plessis’ personal circumstances. They highlighted the repeated and severe nature of the offenses, which included a sexual relationship with a child, as a key factor in their decision. Marc Cavey, representing the Secretary of State, confirmed that the misconduct findings were particularly grave. Du Plessis did not participate in the regulatory proceedings and failed to provide evidence of remorse or acknowledge the impact of his actions on the victim and their family. The TRA panel ruled that the case represented the most extreme end of the spectrum of misconduct and that a prohibition order was essential to ensure the protection of students and uphold public confidence in the teaching profession. The decision reflects the agency’s commitment to addressing serious misconduct with strict measures to prevent recurrence and safeguard vulnerable individuals.