A teacher and former deputy head who led "an extensive campaign" sending "rude and perverted" messages to female colleagues has been banned from teaching for life.

Ashley Kalnins was found by a recent teacher misconduct panel to have committed "gross misconduct" over a number of years while as a teacher at two local schools.

The 39-year-old - who did not attend his own hearing - was found to have sent a large number of sexually explicit messages to two female colleagues over a number of years.

He was said to have shown little remorse for his actions at February's hearing.

The numerous texts first came to light in September 2020, with some dating back to 2016.

Messages to 'Individual A' included: "If you're the only female in I'll go to the female toilets lol Then you come in lol xx Trousers already undone so they come down easily lol xx"

Another said: "Trousers already undone so they come down easily lol xx"

While a further message stated: "Finding your best undies for Wednesday hahaha x"

Screenshots of the messages were shown at the hearing.

"Individual A's evidence was that she did not find the messages funny at all and tried to ignore them but when she did Mr Kalnins would keep on messaging," a report from the Teaching Regulation Agency said.

"Individual A indicated she would try and keep the messages friendly and polite in the manner of talking to a friend and would not respond with sexual messages. 

"She stated she ignored a lot of his messages hoping he would get the hint that she was not interested in him."

One witness described Kalnins' messages as "rude and perverted".

One of the messages sent to 'Individual B' - a newly qualified teacher - said: "You were in my car could have at least played with my hard stick? Lol x'."

Evidence showed the former PE Teacher had asked both women to delete all the messages so his partner would not find out.

He also asked for nude images and asked one of the women repeatedly about massages which he claimed "was in jest as he played rugby and had a habit of asking those he knew for massages".

The report continued: "Individual B described that there were a number of factors which led to her feeling that she could not raise a formal complaint about Mr Kalnins' actions and led to her not being able to trust that she would be believed by the senior staff. 

"These included Mr Kalnins being in a senior role at School A and his professed strong relationships with the senior members of the school, as well as his position as a Eucharistic Minister."

Ultimately the panel found higher standards were expected of Kalnins and his behaviour was sexually motivated.

The messages were said to have had a "serious impact" on the two women and were part of a pattern of behaviour which was "wholly unacceptable".

The panel decided a lifetime ban with no chance of appeal was appropriate.

He admitted he should have known better and said he thought the messages were harmless flirting.

"The panel considered Mr Kalnins' evidence generally and, whilst it found some evidence of remorse and insight, considered it to be limited and most of it to be substantially caveated by Mr Kalnins," the report continued. 

"There was very little understanding evidenced by Mr Kalnins of the impact his behaviours had had on his junior female colleagues or the impact of his behaviours on the schools or wider profession."

Kalnins' messages were sent while he worked at St Francis Catholic Primary School and Our Lady & St Teresa's Catholic Primary School.

He also taught locally at St Thomas More Secondary School and Sixth Form College and St Peter and St Paul Primary School.

See the full report here.