Crime & Safety
UK private school teacher banned for life after ‘falling in love’
Benjamin Phelps, 31, was barred from teaching indefinitely after a disciplinary panel found he committed serious misconduct in his relationship with a student.
During their relationship, Mr Phelps texted the pupil inappropriately, and they met up outside lessons, hugged and kissed on the cheek, and he requested they skip school to “eat in the car” together.
He was fired in April 2024 following an investigation, and the Teaching Regulation Agency’s professional conduct panel struck him off on January 16 this year.
Mr Phelps worked as a deputy boarding housemaster, tutor and performing arts technician at the senior school for students aged 13 to 18 at Bede’s School in East Sussex, which reportedly costs £30,000 a year to attend.
One WhatsApp message he sent said: “I hope you’ve had a good night, I’m falling asleep with my phone in my hand. I love you and wish you sweet dream!! Contact me about anything.”
Another said: “A hot feeling went through me, from front to back, I shook slightly (bit weird but true), then I had this warm glow and I can’t stop staring at it.
“I feel love, like pure love at a level I’m not sure I’ve felt before. This one feels special. (I’m so sorry for this but you want the truth) it properly turned me on.
“I just want to grab you and pick you up and have you wrapped around me. Also (less crass now!) I feel like there is not a single other thought in my brain, not one other than you.”
He also told the student: “Love you more every day. My heart fluttered every time you caught my eye x also, I love the hearts! Just ready them they’ll stay close to me.”
On one occasion he wrote on a napkin: “Just to say.. I (heart symbol) with all my (heart symbol), missed you today.”
Mr Phelps received a call from the pupil in October 2023, and their relationship became increasingly personal between November and January 2024, shown in messages sent on the school’s main system for digital communication.
These Google chat messages, scattered with kisses and emojis, included “you have such a beautiful mind though, it’s so pure and genuine, I’ve always said that”, “massive hugs on the pillow” and “maybe delete this chat too in case they look through your phone”.
The student disclosed a matter to him in November 2023 that should have prompted him to follow safeguarding procedures, but he did not, the panel said.
He moved their correspondence to WhatsApp in January 2024, which was not a school-approved form of communication, and they spent more time together outside of lessons and exchanged photographs.
Their relationship “came to a head” when the student attempted to kiss Mr Phelps in February 2024, the panel said.
It was indicated that the teacher did not reciprocate the kiss and he then attempted to return their relationship to “a more professional footing”, it found.
However, he did not report the kiss and accepted to the tribunal that there had on occasion been kisses on the cheek.
References to hugs in their messages made it clear that “hugs had occurred between them”, the panel said.
During the hearing, Mr Phelps “conceded that with hindsight he had probably been flattered to receive the attention” and that some messages he sent “indicated that he had developed romantic feelings”.
The panel found “both individually and cumulatively the activities” amounted to “significant breaches of professional boundaries and demonstrated that by February 2024 the relationship between Mr Phelps and Pupil A had become personal and romanticised”.
An allegation that he pursued a “course of conduct akin to grooming” was not proved.
The Grade II listed mansion near Wallingford was first listed in early June last year and since then a buyer has not been found.
Initially it was priced at £10m by agent Savills but in February the classic 17th-century English country home was pulled from the market and then relaunched in March at £1m less than its original listing.
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It is now priced at £9m.
Mr Caine lived there with his family from 1984 to 1999, with the legendary actor, who played Alfred in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol, selling the property in 2020.
At that time it was listed on the market for £6.95m.
Its listing states: “Architecturally interesting, this Grade II listed 17th century, quintessentially English country house affords its future custodian a true Swallows and Amazons lifestyle.
“Marrying period charm with the convenience of 21st century living, Rectory Farm House provides the opportunity to entertain on a grand scale.
“It is a perfect country retreat for those seeking a private edge of village estate, hidden from view.”
With 600 feet of River Thames frontage, the six-bedroom mansion comes with a Moroccan-style jacuzzi, a sauna and a 100,000-litre swimming pool.
In addition, it has two kitchens, five bathrooms, a music room, a drawing room and sitting rooms.
It also has on the ground floor a utility room, gym, plant room, boot room and two lavatories.
Outside Sir Michael added extensively to the 17,000 sq ft property and planted many specimen trees in the grounds.
Property agent Victoria Knight, head of office at Savills in Henley, said: “Situated on the longest stretch of the Thames between locks, Rectory Farm House offers hours of hassle-free boating.
“Despite its 600 feet of frontage, the house cannot be seen from the river and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and grounds.
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“Beneath the formal lawns, waterside meadows are also a haven for all manner of wildlife, including otters, swans, kingfishers, hedgehogs, sparrowhawks, buzzards, rooks and deer.”
Outside, and included in the purchase, is a cottage equipped with a sitting room, kitchen, downstairs bedroom suite and mezzanine bedroom suite.
A three bay, timber clad garage provides an additional three car ports, a large machinery store, a log store and a first floor storage room.
In addition, there is a lodge that is presently used as staff accommodation.
The rural crime police found and recovered a red Ducati Monster in the Cane End area of south Oxfordshire, close to Reading.
According to officers, the bike was involved in an incident last month where it failed to stop for blue lights and made off in a “dangerous” manner having crashed into a police van.
It was found on Wednesday evening, May 13.
The Ducati Monster is a popular motorbike made by the Italian manufacturer since the early 1990s.
Some 350,000 Ducati Monsters have been produced since the model’s introduction in 1993, making it the best-selling and longest-running motorcycle in Ducati’s history.
Its often credited in the motorbike world as being the one that ‘saved Ducati’ due to its popularity and cheap development costs
The Rose & Crown in Ratley, a village new Banbury on the northern tip of the Cotswolds AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), shut down unexpectedly ahead of the festive period in December 2024, due to personal circumstances, according to the owners.
The village pub and restaurant, 10 miles north of Banbury, is now set to be reopened under new owners after more than a year on the market.
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In a statement released to introduce themselves, new owners Dee and Norm Knight-Barrett said: “We wanted to reassure everyone that we intend to reopen The Rose & Crown as a traditional British ‘pie and pint’ pub.
“There is quite a bit of work to do internally in particular the cellar and kitchen.
“We want to offer the best beers and pies that we can so we need to carry out some upgrades. We will keep you posted with regard to progress so please bear with us.
“We are looking forward to meeting you all and making lots of new friends.”
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The new owners revealed the plans include theme nights, pizza, curry and barbecues, live music, a pool table and sports games, and has invited further suggestions from the village.
The property is a grade II listed, detached building which is believed to have operated as a pub for more than 250 years.
No opening date has yet been announced and works to renovate and refresh the venue are ongoing.
Michael Caine’s £9m riverside manor unsold after a year
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