A former Brockhill Park teacher has been struck off for at least three years after sending “sexually motivated” messages to a former student.

Christopher Tinsley, who lives in Kingsnorth, Ashford, taught physical education (PE) at the school in Sandling Road, Saltwood, Hythe, from August 2007 to November 2015 when he resigned.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership made the decision on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education at a hearing on Tuesday, March 7.

The report, published this week, said that Tinsley, 32, sent pictures of himself “semi naked” and wearing “only a towel around his waist.”

He also made “inappropriate contact” with her on Instagram, a social media site, calling her “a gorgeous young woman” and asking her to send a picture of herself in a football shirt and long socks.

Evidence showed that his messages asked the pupil if she ever fancied him, and whether she had a “soft spot” for him.

He admitted these admissions, but denied “patting her on the bottom with his clipboard” and calling her “beautiful” on more than one occasion when she was in Year 9 and 10.

These allegations were withdrawn as they were not proven due to a lack of evidence.

Tinsley studied at Canterbury Christ Church University and worked on a placement at John Wallis School in Ashford for a school year between 2006 and 2007- when it was formerly Christ Church C of E.

After moving to Brockhill, Tinsley was promoted to head of PE on June 1, 2013 and the following year received a written warning “relating to the manner in which he spoke to a member of staff supporting a vulnerable student.”

It was in October 2015 that the allegation was raised that Tinsley had sent messages via social media to a former pupil of the school.

On November 2 of that year he was suspended and a disciplinary investigation went ahead with him being interviewed at the school on November 9.

By November 12 he resigned as head of department and as a teacher, which resulted in him leaving Brockhill.

At the hearing, the panel who made the ultimate decision, accepted that there were “personal circumstances seriously affected his ability to make rational judgements.”

In his oral evidence, Tinsley “did not seek to excuse his behaviour” but said that he lost two of his best friends following the death of a family member and a breakdown of a relationship with a partner – he therefore “wanted someone to talk to.”

Good character reports were also noted before the panel came to a decision which was to prohibit Tinsley from teaching “indefinitely”, which includes any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

He has 28 days to appeal.

Tinsley can apply for this prohibition order to be set aside, but not until March 2020, three years from the date of his order “at the earliest.”

If he does apply the panel will reconvene and consider his case.