Assistant headteacher who battered his wife and hurled a porcelain toilet brush holder at her escapes ban because it didn't happen in school

An assistant headteacher who was convicted of battering his wife and hurling a porcelain toilet brush holder at her has been allowed to stay in the profession as the assault didn't happen in school. Douglas Elvy was arrested on December 26, 2023 after police were called to the Boxing Day row and he was released on bail the following day on the condition that he did not contact the victim, an employment tribunal heard. However, only days later on January 3, 2024 the PE and maths teacher sent the person a series of WhatsApp messages, including one which read: 'PLEASE DELETE CONVERSATION AND I'LL DO THE SAME.' The next day Elvy attempted to call the victim, named as 'Person A', in tribunal documents, before sending them an email which contained 'a large paragraph about their relationship'. He was re-arrested on January 10 and charged with harassment and assault, and on January 11 pleaded guilty to these offences at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court. The teacher was handed an 18-month community order which required him to attend 30 sessions of a Building Better Relationships course, mental health treatment and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.Elvy, despite having a previously 'unblemished' record, was suspended from Priory secondary school in Southsea, Portsmouth, on April 22, 2024 and then subsequently sacked.But an employment tribunal has now ruled that despite admitting the serious offences, Elvy can continue to teach as he would likely continue 'to make a positive contribution to teaching'. Douglas Elvy was sacked after admitting charges of battery and harassment, but a tribunal has allowed him to stay in the professionThe Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel said Elvy's 'one-off episode' involved 'violence and harassment' but that his convictions 'did not lead to a sentence of imprisonment'. The panel added that his conduct was 'not directly relevant to teaching insofar as they occurred in the context of Mr Elvy's personal life'. 'However, the panel did not regard the offences as trivial or minor and the same applied to the sentence imposed, which was not insignificant.'Further, the offences did, in the panel's view, link to Elvy's professional practice insofar as they raised issues regarding self-regulation, judgement and role-modelling. 'There was, accordingly, a direct link to working with children and working in an education setting. 'Further, given the involvement of violence, the behaviour directly impacted on the victim.' Elvy had got into a row with his wife when she tried to talk to him about an issue, but he simply told her to leave him alone and he slapped her in the face and told her to 'go away'. Mrs Elvy avoided her husband all day until she heard him 'crying' and found him on the bathroom floor.After trying to console him, Elvy told her 'you've done this' and slapped her again before kicking out as 'some contact' was made.As she left the room, she said that a porcelain toilet brush holder was 'thrown in her direction' although it narrowly missed her. She then called police when Elvy was arrested and moved herself and their children in with her parents.The tribunal heard in mitigation that prior to his conviction, Elvy had a 'good record' and 'doubt had not been cast upon his abilities as an educator'. It was noted that Elvy 'had made a valuable contribution to the profession' with character references adding that he had made a 'positive contribution' to teaching. Elvy had worked as an assistant headteacher at Priory secondary school in Southsea, Portsmouth, but was sacked following his conviction Despite his conviction, Elvy had an 'otherwise good record in terms of no previous misconduct' and the offences were 'an isolated episode in the context of his career as a whole and he had no previous convictions', the panel said. The tribunal ruled: 'A recommendation of no prohibition order would be both a proportionate and an appropriate response. 'Elvy gave evidence in an open way and showed insight into the circumstances that led to and the impact of his actions. 'He had reflected on his behaviours and undertaken various rehabilitative steps. 'The panel was also satisfied that Elvy would be likely to make a positive contribution to teaching, education and the profession in the future by using his skills, experience and expertise. 'He was clearly passionate about education and had an otherwise unblemished record. 'These matters took place in the context of his private life and not in the course of his professional duties. There had been no repetition of any similar behaviour since.'The TRA added: 'A prohibition order was not necessary in terms of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils or the protection of other members of the public given the panel's conclusions regarding there being limited, ongoing risk.'Priory is a mixed secondary school teaching ages 11 to 16. Around 1,250 pupils are enrolled at the school. Do YOU have a story? Email William.G.Hallowell@dailymail.co.uk READ MORE: Teacher at £56,000-a-year boarding school is banned after failing to disclose fiancé's child sex convictions