A former Year Two teacher has been permanently banned from the profession after sending inappropriate messages to a schoolgirl he met on an 18+ dating app.
Daniel Duhig, 29, of Hornchurch, Essex, asked the girl, who was under 16 and not his student, if she was a virgin and told her he believed she would be popular with boys. He also stated he "wanted to join her in bed."
Duhig was arrested in January 2024 and subsequently pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child at Barkingside Magistrates' Court in May of that year. He claimed he was unaware the victim was underage.
Duhig taught at Godwin Primary School in Dagenham from September 2023 until his arrest. He sent the messages on December 28, 2023. Following his arrest, he was placed on garden leave, sacked in May, and later sought another opportunity to continue his teaching career.
He received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and 100 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to pay the victim £154, £85 in prosecution fees, and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.
A tribunal barred Duhig from teaching for life, citing a high likelihood of him committing similar offenses in the future. The panel found insufficient evidence that he had demonstrated insight into the broader impact of his actions on the child or public confidence in the teaching profession.
Concerns regarding Duhig's professional boundaries with pupils had been raised previously, leading to his placement on a support plan. During a disciplinary hearing, Duhig expressed sincere sorrow and deep regret for his actions, acknowledging the seriousness of his mistake. He reiterated his claim that he would have immediately blocked the girl had he known she was underage and requested another chance from the school.
However, the teaching panel noted that while there was some evidence of remorse and acceptance of responsibility, there was little indication of insight into the wider impact of his offending. The panel concluded that the risk of Duhig committing similar offenses in the future was high, representing a substantial concern.
