A teacher who 'worked openly' as a £1,600-a-night escort and uploaded X-rated photographs to a 'swingers site' has been struck off.
Ms Samantha Barguss, now 30, was a teacher at Hall Green Infant School, in Birmingham, before an anonymous letter to authorities turned her life upside down and led to a misconduct panel finding that her secret life might even encourage pupils to turn to prostitution.
A tip off in 2022 led to Barguss being confronted by school bosses about a profile on an escorting website. She initially denied all allegations when first approached in 2023, but came clean to some of the claims the next day and resigned.
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Terry Hyde, who chaired the virtual Teaching Regulation Agency hearing, said yesterday (July 17) that Barguss could be seen having sex on the profile.
Hyde said: "The panel noted that there were numerous inappropriate images/videos within the 'movies' and 'gallery' sections of the profile, many of which had graphic titles.
"The still images of the movies appeared to show Ms Barguss engaging in sexual intercourse. The images within the gallery section of the profile showed Ms Barguss' body from a range of angles, whilst she was wearing minimal clothing.
"Ms Barguss stated that Covid and lockdown had occurred during her time at the school, which she stated had negatively impacted upon her and which had taken a toll on her and relationship."
She admitted she and her partner made a profile in order to meet 'like-minded' individuals. They didn't want to use a normal dating site, as that would require using face pictures, Barguss explained.
The panel disagreed, and noted that some of the photographs and still images from the videos clearly showed Ms Barguss' face, Mr Hyde said.
Ms Barguss listed her prices on the profile, charging £120 for half an hour, £220 for an hour and £1,600 overnight, but later said she made no money from it.
The profile stated this was not her only job, and added: "I am exceptionally popular and always eager to add to my impressive, ever growing, base of regular clients. I love my job and I desire nothing more than to gratify you in every way possible."
Mr Hyde said: "The panel considered that it was at least possible that pupils may have been able to find this profile and that viewing their teacher in this way may lead pupils to consider that posting images of this nature is a way to make money.
"The panel considered that this was a potentially dangerous perception."
Ms Barguss admitted two allegations that between July 22, 2020 and January 25, 2023, she displayed 'one or more inappropriate images and/or videos of herself on the internet' and posted 'one or more messages and/or images on the internet offering to sell sexual services'.
She was banned from teaching for at least five years.
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