A TEACHER has been banned for life after having a three-month sexual relationship with one ex-pupil and kissing another.

James Cocks, 33, was interviewed by police while he worked as director of music at Varndean School in Brighton.

One ex-pupil from his previous employer Regents Park School in Southampton, known as Pupil A, had accused Mr Cocks of starting a sexual relationship with her in June 2009 after she finished her final exam.

Then another pupil, Pupil C, claimed Mr Cocks had kissed her after she left the school.

The Varndean teacher lied to police after he was arrested in 2018, claiming he had not had a relationship with or kissed either pupil.

But at a Teaching Regulation Agency hearing last month he admitted both accusations were true.

He had resigned from Varndean a year earlier.

The disciplinary panel found that Mr Cocks had committed serious dishonesty and serious sexual misconduct.

“Mr Cocks was in a position of responsibility and ought not to have had a sexual relationship with Pupil A,” it wrote.

“Although there have been full admissions to the conduct alleged, the panel noted that when questioned by the police Mr Cocks denied the sexual relationship with Pupil A despite being aware of what had happened.

“This was dishonest and unacceptable for a teacher.”

Messages read out in the hearing described Mr Cocks’s relationship with Pupil A.

In August 2009 the teacher reassured her over social media after she expressed concern about not using contraceptives.

The disciplinary panel found Mr Cocks had “sought to minimise his actions”.

“When interviewed by the police Mr Cocks lied and this was dishonest and lacking in integrity,” it wrote.

“Such conduct is unacceptable for a teacher.

“Although there has been no repetition of the conduct, the panel did not consider that Mr Cocks has shown adequate evidence of insight in his representations.

“The panel considered that despite his admissions Mr Cocks has sought to minimise his actions.

“Mr Cocks was involved in a sexual relationship with Pupil A and kissed Pupil C.

“This was a gross transgression of appropriate professional boundaries.”

Official Alan Meyrick prohibited Mr Cocks from teaching indefinitely.

He ruled Mr Cocks was not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

“In my judgement, the lack of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils,” he wrote.

“The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of both serious sexual misconduct and dishonesty.

“I have placed considerable weight on the panel’s comments concerning the lack of insight or remorse.

“In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.

“Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour within and outside school.”