Teacher who set up OnlyFans account avoids ban

A school teacher who set up an OnlyFans account featuring explicit content has avoided a ban following a professional conduct hearing.

Leanne Wilson, who had worked at Holbrook School for Autism in Holbrook, Derbyshire, since 2015 resigned in May 2023 after being suspended when the account came to light.

Ms Wilson told a Teaching Regulation Agency panel she had set up the account in April 2022 at a time when she was "extremely unwell", and actively used it until about October that year.

The panel concluded a ban from the classroom would not be proportionate, and the publication of its findings would be sufficient.

A spokesperson for Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, which operates the school, said it had "extremely high standards" and "acted promptly" as soon as it was made aware of concerns.

The hearing was told Ms Wilson had adopted the alias Sophie Palmer for the OnlyFans account, which offered subscribers sexually explicit photos and interactions via direct messages and chat.

She also set up an Instagram account under the same pseudonym, which featured photographs of herself in underwear and a link to her OnlyFans account.

Her online activities came to light when a school staff member was shown the Instagram account through the app's "people you may know" function and recognised Ms Wilson.

The panel heard Ms Wilson, who accepted her conduct had been inappropriate and unprofessional, had suffered from a number of serious conditions for a significant period of her life and this had been disclosed to the school when she first applied to work there.

It was noted there had been a series of events leading up to the misconduct, which included Ms Wilson being assaulted by a student in September 2021.

Accepting Ms Wilson's account that she had been extremely unwell, the panel - in its report - said: "It was in this context that both the Instagram account and OnlyFans account were set up."

The report added: "It was a significant factor which led to her doing what she did and it is highly unlikely that she would have acted as she had if she had not been ill at the time.

"Ms Wilson's conduct was not momentary or done on impulse, however the panel were nonetheless of the view that this was a one-off episode in Ms Wilson's life and that she had shown insight into what had led to this occurring."

The report concluded: "Although the panel recognised the severity of Ms Wilson's behaviour, the panel was of the view that this had to be balanced against the significant and compelling mitigation that was present in this case.

"Whilst Ms Wilson's behaviour was serious, the panel considered that her actions were not of the kind which were incompatible with being a teacher."

A spokesperson for the academy trust said: "At Esteem we have extremely high standards and expectations for both staff and students.

"We acted promptly as soon as we were made aware of concerns about a former member of staff in May 2023.

"She was suspended immediately while a swift and thorough investigation took place and was dismissed following its conclusion in July of the same year.

"The case was then referred to the Teacher Regulation Authority for a full hearing."

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