A FORMER John of Gaunt music teacher who said he was infatuated by a 17-year-old girl when he texted her saying ‘Love U’, over a decade ago, has been told he can continue to teach.

Tony James sent the message to the girl while working as a supply music teacher at the Trowbridge school in 2002, when he was under the age of 21.

A professional conduct panel has now been told that in the same year, Mr James voluntarily attended Trowbridge police station and asked to speak with officers about the matter, and that no criminal charges were brought against him.

The girl, who was spoken to at the time by police, did not reply to the text and told officers she thought he was a “very professional” teacher.

In the course of the interview with the police, Mr James said he was infatuated with the pupil but nothing had happened between them and she never responded to the message. The pupil confirmed this and said she thought he was a “very professional” teacher.

Mr James was then admitted to Green Lane Hospital in Devizes with mental health problems.

The allegation only came to light in December 2011 when John of Gaunt was notified of the police investigation in 2002 by the Wiltshire Safeguarding Children Board, which led to the professional conduct hearing.

The panel heard evidence from Mr James, who was not the pupil’s teacher at the time he sent the text, who said that he had acted on the spur of the moment following his discharge from hospital.

Decision maker Alan Meyrick said in a report: “Given the particular circumstances of this case and in particular, his age at the time of the allegation, which occurred before he became a teacher, his mental health problems which are now treated and managed, and his good history, the panel is not of the view that prohibition is a proportionate and appropriate response.”

“Given that the nature and severity of the behaviour is at the less serious end of the possible spectrum and in light of the mitigating factors that were present in this case, the panel has determined that a recommendation for a prohibition order will not be appropriate in this case.”

The panel heard Mr James has continued to work as a peripatetic music teacher without any further concern and that details of the incident would be revealed on Disclosure and Barring Service checks.