Teacher banned after giving student pen with hidden camera

A teacher who gave a pupil a pen with a hidden camera and encouraged them to change clothes before using it has been banned from the profession. Matthew Udall, 33, was banned indefinitely from the profession after a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found his “actions were sexually motivated and had the potential to cause serious harm to the pupil”. The former science teacher, who was then teaching at a Warwickshire school, had encouraged the student to change her clothes before writing in a journal at home with the pen, without disclosing that it had a camera. The panel noted there was “no indication Mr Udall had succeeded in his attempt, but his intentions were clear from the conviction he received”.

According to the TRA decision, the pupil spotted the camera lens on the pen and confided in a friend and another teacher, who informed the headteacher. Udall was arrested in July 2022 and convicted a little over two years later after pleading guilty to inciting or causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, no penetration, and attempting to observe a person doing a private act. He was sentenced to 31 months in prison. The panel said that it “was not provided with any evidence to demonstrate that Mr Udall had shown insight and remorse in relation to his conduct”. It recommended a prohibition order be “imposed with immediate effect” with no provision for a review period as it was “unable to say with any degree of certainty that there was a low risk of Mr Udall repeating his actions”. The panel added Udall “sought to conceal” his actions by telling the pupil to “exclude their parent”. David Oatley, acting on behalf of the secretary of state, agreed with the panel’s recommendations and made the prohibition order with no review period, owing to the serious nature of the offence, “the lack of evidence of insight and remorse, and the risk of repetition”. Udall has been prohibited from the profession indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, children’s home or relevant youth accommodation. “Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Udall shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach,” Mr Oatley wrote. Udall may appeal the order to the High Court within 28 days.