4 Mar 2016

Teachers found guilty of misconduct named

5:06 pm on 4 March 2016

The Education Council's disciplinary tribunal has lifted name suppression for two Gisborne teachers found guilty of serious misconduct over their relationship with a 13-year-old girl who later died.

They are Samuel Back and Angela Mepham.

The pair appeared before the tribunal in mid-February, when it deregistered Mr Back, 42, and censured Miss Mepham, 33.

It said it was not convinced by their arguments for name supression but allowed them two weeks to appeal - a time limit that lapsed today.

Mr Back had taught the girl while she was in Year 8 at Gisborne Intermediate School in 2013 and began an intense relationship with her after she ran away from home and stayed overnight with the couple in October that year.

The tribunal said he had breached the most elementary obligation owed by teachers to students - to do everything in his power to ensure the safety of his student.

The name of the girl and her family are permanently suppressed.