Teacher gave pupil cocktail and Xmas card signed ‘your best buddy’ with a kiss

Richard James Pugh was head of science at Llangatwg Community School in Neath when he messaged the child on social media and then gave her a Christmas card and gifts

A teacher gave a pupil a Chrismas card from “your best buddy” as well as buying her gifts including a cocktail drink. Richard James Pugh was head of science at Llangatwg Community School in Neath when he contacted the child via social media.

Merthyr Magistrates Court heard the youngster – who can’t be named for legal reasons – felt distressed by Pugh’s unwelcome advances and cut off from others. She revealed to the court via video link that he had slipped a gift bag into her school bag containing a Malibu and pineapple drink, biscuits and chilled coffee whilst on school premises, as well as the Christmas card signed “your best buddy” with a kiss, reports Wales Online.

In police testimony presented to the court on November 19, the child stated: “The first week we went back he gave me gifts after Christmas. A packet of digestive biscuits, two iced coffees and a can of Malibu because over Christmas he asked what I was doing and I said I had a Malibu with my parents.”

The youngster explained that Pugh had also handed over a Nando’s meal voucher and a vaping device. The court learned she had discovered all these items bundled together in a gift bag from him, tucked inside her school bag during early January this year.

Pugh, 41, from Regent Street, Aberaman, a former educator with 13 years’ experience who is now unemployed, had initially entered a not guilty plea to providing alcohol to a minor at a previous hearing.

His barrister Zoe Laugharne said he wished to alter his plea at the resumed proceedings on November 19. Entering a guilty plea to supplying a minor with alcohol, Pugh refuted handing it to the youngster in a gift bag alongside other items.

He insisted she had helped herself to these belongings from a collection of presents left behind in a classroom following Christmas. The coffee she grabbed had been in the room as part of a “caffeine experiment”, he informed the court.

The ex-teacher maintained he had instructed the pupil to take any unwanted presents and items from the classroom which he claimed were destined for the bin.

He alleged he hadn’t witnessed her taking them but that she must have also placed them in a gift bag herself. He claimed there had been a pile of various bags, including gift bags, in the science laboratory.

When questioned by prosecutor Jonathan Evans about his change of plea and how his account to police differed from his court testimony, Pugh responded: “I was arrested at 4am and questioned. It was a long time ago.”

He accused the youngster of “changing her story” and claimed “she has made things up as well.” When pressed again about supplying her with alcohol, Pugh answered: “I have not literally handed that to her”.

He said: “The Malibu was purchased for my cleaner. The alcohol was never given to her. It was in the classroom.” Pugh maintained that “nothing was given to her in a gift bag” and that she was “collecting stuff throughout the day….all types of gifts were there. When I get gifted alcohol it stays and is re-gifted. A few little cans came home with me.”

When questioned by the prosecutor, “you formed an inappropriate relationship with her didn’t you?” Pugh responded: “no.” However, he admitted that he had indeed given her a Christmas card signed with a kiss.

Zoe Laugharne, Pugh’s defence counsel, stated: “The defendant accepts giving alcohol to the complainant but does not accept giving alcohol in a gift bag accompanied by other items.”

In a victim impact statement, the child said that Pugh’s attention had disrupted her education and made her feel unsafe at school. “When Mr Pugh started messaging (on instagram) I did not understand why someone I trusted would do that to me,” she said.

She recounted feeling “trapped” and feared she wouldn’t be believed if she reported it because he was a teacher. “I was constantly looking over my shoulder as if there was no escape from his presence. I felt vulnerable and exposed and ashamed and a fear of being judged.”

She said that thinking about it induced panic and that Pugh “refuses to take responsibility for what he did”. In his summary, District Judge Neil Thomas said: “There was nothing of any credibility in his (Pugh’s) evidence and he could not tell the truth even at this late stage. The maximum sentence I can give is a fine.”

Pugh, who is unemployed and has no plans to return to teaching, the court was told, received a £500 fine plus a £200 court surcharge and £650 prosecution costs.

Additionally, Judge Thomas granted the complainant’s application for a restraining order against Pugh.

Imposing the 12-month order, the judge instructed him that he must not contact the child directly or indirectly and must not post anything about her on social media.

“That’s not to do with the sentencing, but if you break the order you will be arrested and could be sentenced to five years in prison,” the judge said.