Thurso teacher facing allegations of kissing and groping a pupil was 'not in control,' hearing told
By Darren McConachie, Deadline News
A Thurso teacher was "drunk and flirtatious" on the night she allegedly groped and kissed a pupil at a nightclub, according to a former colleague.
Colleague Emilie Charton went to Skinandi's nightclub with married physics teacher Ashley McConnell on the night in question in March 2018.
The pair, who both taught at Thurso High School, had known each other for around six months when they went to the club together for drinks.
French teacher Ms Charton said that Miss McConnell ordered several drinks and was not in control, but said she can't remember her making advances towards anyone.
Miss McConnell faces being struck off the teaching register by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) following an investigation over her alleged behaviour.
The mum-of-two, who was 30 at the time, has admitted to holding hands with the 17-year-old pupil at the nightclub but denies kissing him.
The tribunal heard on Tuesday how the youngster, known only as Pupil A, told school bosses that he kissed her "three or four times".
She has also been accused of dancing in a "sexualised way" with the student and touching him around the groin and bum.
Miss McConnell is also accused of telling two pupils at the club to "f**k off" before gesturing two fingers at them.
She then also allegedly said she would "fight the b***h" in reference to one of the female pupils.
Giving evidence at the hearing on Wednesday, Ms Charton, who recently left the school, said: “Ashley was drinking Jack Daniels and Coke while also ordering Budweiser and she did this maybe two or three times. I do not believe that she was in full control of her actions, she was more than tipsy, but I do not remember her making any advances.
“Ashley was feeling like she wanted to party, I was the one who had to push her away.
“I called for a taxi at about 3.15am and left the club to make a 30-second call. When the club closed we met a man Ashley knew.
“I did not hear everything that Ashley was saying to the man, as they were quite far away, but the girl made her comments quite loud.
“Ashley was drunk, more aggressive and sensitive to the comments, when she gave the girl the finger."
Dr Fiona Grant, a former head teacher from the school, revealed to the GTCS panel how she launched an investigation into the allegations.
Miss McConnell was suspended after concerned pupils approached school bosses with a video of the alleged incident.
Describing a still image taken from the video, Dr Grant said that “Miss McConnell's hand is flat towards Pupil A’s groin.”
Students who were at the nightclub said the teacher was dancing in a "sexualised" and "dirty" manner.
Recounting her interview with Pupil A, Dr Grant said: “He had danced on three or four occasions with the teacher for around 10 minutes.
“He described the dancing as flirtatious dancing, close at some parts with physical contact between each other's bodies.
“He viewed it as inappropriate, he personally felt it had gone too far and distanced himself from the situation.
“He indicated Miss McConnell kissed him three or four times. He then indicated that her attention towards him had gone too far and got annoyed.
"He told her to stop and blanked her for the rest of the night."
The hearing continues.
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