Allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” made by three teenage girls against their former football coach have been found proven by a disciplinary panel.
And it can also be revealed that disgraced Josh Roper attempted to use his mother’s health to conceal his actions from the public.
Mr Roper, a former coach at North Walsham Town’s girls team, was accused of bombarding players with “suggestive” messages via social media, including shirtless photographs.
He was also faced with allegations of repeatedly touching one child’s bottom by “brushing past” her and placing his hand on the lower back of another during a team huddle.
Josh Roper, former coach of North Walsham Town girls football team (Image: Supplied) This week, these claims were brought before a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct panel – with Mr Roper employed as head of PE at Sheringham Community Primary School at the time of some of the allegations.
After hearing evidence from two of his former players this week, the panel found the allegations against him proven.
These included:
Also shown to the panel was a number of “inappropriate and suggestive” messages he had sent to different players while coaching the team.
These included:
Josh Roper, former coach of North Walsham, pictured with England international Lauren Hemp, who played for the team before Mr Roper joined (Image: Josh Roper) He will, however, now face a wait to learn whether the panel is recommending a prohibition order against him that will prevent him from returning to the profession.
Ian Hylan, the panel’s chairman, said it had considered his behaviour to be “sexually motivated” and “not in keeping with the safeguarding of children”.
The panel heard that in 2017, Mr Roper was investigated by the Norfolk FA relating to “over-familiar” communications with female players.
Following this investigation, Mr Roper was required to write reflections on his behaviour, in which he acknowledged he had acted inappropriately.
But further allegations were brought against him in 2022, sparking a further probe and reports from additional players.
Mr Hylan said that this had demonstrated a “repeated pattern of behaviour” which indicated a “lack of insight” into his previous actions.
A second probe by the Norfolk FA – an organisation he previously served as an ambassador for – saw him permanently suspended from coaching.
The panel will now decide whether to advise the secretary of state to ban him from teaching as well.
Amalea Bourne, representing the TRA at the hearing, said: “We have not been provided with overwhelming evidence that Mr Roper contributed to the profession so much that it was an exceptional contribution.”
At the beginning of the hearing, the panel considered an application from Mr Roper to hold the proceedings in private, which would have prevented the facts of the case being published.
In can now be revealed that in making this attempt, he had cited the impact publication would have on his mother as a reason to do so.
In a letter sent to the panel, which he subsequently sent to this newspaper, Mr Roper sought to prevent his name from being revealed.
It argued that medical conditions suffered by his mother, which we have chosen not to publish, would be “impacted by the disclosure of her son’s name”.
After discussing the appeal, the panel turned down Mr Roper’s request and the hearing was allowed to proceed in public.
A final decision on Mr Roper’s teaching future will be published in writing in due course.
Mr Roper has faced no criminal proceedings related to the incidents.
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