A teacher who was spotted walking naked in the street by pub goers has claimed he had been delivering food and was outside for ‘less than a minute’.
Andrew Peacock, a former deputy head of maths at Hetton Academy, faces being banned from the classroom after locals saw him going for a stroll in the nude in the Tyneside town of Hebburn in 2023.
The self-confessed naturist was found naked on Ellison Street, close to the River Tyne, by two members of the public who later reported him to police on November 11.
The pair told cops Mr Peacock then got into his car and began driving up and down the street, causing them to feel the need to hide, a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing heard.
He was later stopped in his car by an officer, who noticed he ‘had a grey hoodie placed over his lap and his bare legs were showing’, the tribunal heard.
Mr Peacock was arrested and accepted a caution, but contended the incident was a ‘simple act of naturism’ and claimed to have spent less than a minute outside, TRA case presenter Leah Redden told the panel.
‘It is [Mr Peacock’s] position that he is a naturist and had been delivering food in the local area before deciding to go for a walk by the river,’ she added.
During his police interview, Mr Peacock also denied seeking to be seen, intending to alarm anyone, or seeking sexual gratification, the hearing heard.
Andrew Peacock, a former deputy head of maths at Hetton Academy (pictured), was spotted walking naked in the street by terrified pub goers
Hetton Academy principal Vicky Pinkney gave evidence during the virtual hearing on Thursday, telling the panel that Mr Peacock didn’t tell her about his arrest for more than a week.
The school only found out when the local authority designated officer (LADO) contacted her. She subsequently called Mr Peacock into a meeting and a disciplinary investigation began.
‘He seemed to think that he was a naturist and it didn’t affect school and that it was acceptable for him to be out and about without his clothes on,’ she told the panel.
Mr Peacock claimed he was unaware of the need to inform the school and wanted to ‘avoid attracting media attention’ to protect its reputation.
Asked about Mr Peacock’s teaching skills, Ms Pinkney added: ‘He was an okay teacher, results were not always where perhaps they should have been but we were working to develop that.’
One of the women who saw Mr Peacock unclothed also told the hearing it made her feel ‘panicked and terrified’ and ‘made her think twice about being out at night’.
Ms Redden said it was the TRA’s view that Mr Peacock’s action ‘constituted a criminal offence’ which caused witnesses to hide and fear they were being followed.
She added that Mr Peacock ‘would have been aware’ that he had to walk past a number of houses during his walk.
The self confessed naturist was found naked on Ellison Street (pictured), close to the River Tyne, by two members of the public
Join the debate
Should teachers who commit offences outside school lose their right to teach?
At the hearing, Mr Peacock was accused of being been naked in a public place and being arrested but failing to inform anyone at the school.
He was also accused of behaviour that constituted a criminal offence as well as dishonest conduct, having accepted a caution.
The tribunal found each offence proven and also found Mr Peacock’s actions constituted misconduct.
The panel will now decide whether to recommend a teaching ban is imposed by the Secretary of State for Education.
