Teacher at £30,000-a-year private school abused schoolboy after grooming him on Snapchat

By JAKE HOLDEN, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 07:23, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 07:24, 20 July 2026 A DT teacher at a £30,000-a-year private school sexually assaulted a boy after grooming him on Snapchat. Jacques Du Plessis arranged to pick up the boy and then sexually assaulted him on several occasions - even recording one on his phone. When he was arrested, sex toys, a bondage kit and a pair of children's boxer shorts were found in a box under his desk at the London school. After being jailed for over eight years for the offences which he did 'for the satisfaction of himself', he has now been banned from teaching for life. Du Plessis began working as a design and technology teacher at John Lyon School in Harrow-on-the-Hill, north-west London, in September 2022. Fees at the school can reach £30,228. Du Plessis had started talking to the boy on Snapchat and arranged to pick him up in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. He then sexually assaulted the boy a number of times over a few days in different locations - including one where he recorded the incidents on his phone. Sex toys, a bondage kit and a pair of children's boxer shorts were found under Du Plessis' desk at John Lyon School, London, following his arrest in May 2024 Du Plessis was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison in April 2025 after he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child, grooming, and making and distributing indecent images of a child He was suspended from work in May 2024 when the school became aware of his arrest for sexual offences against a child. He pleaded guilty to meeting a child following grooming, making indecent photographs of a child, distributing indecent photographs of a child, and three counts of sexual activity with a child at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in June 2024. Du Plessis admitted to the court that he had 'destroyed two families' and 'devastated his career'. However, it was said that he went ahead with the grooming 'for the satisfaction of himself only'. He was jailed for eight years and three months in April 2025. The case was then taken to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing, where he was struck off from working and banned from re-applying to work as a teacher for life. It was said that he had been of good character prior to his convictions. Shabana Robertson, chairing the TRA hearing, said: 'The panel considered that Mr Du Plessis' behaviour in committing the offence could affect public confidence in the teaching profession, given the influence that teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community and given the gravity of Mr Du Plessis' conviction. 'In light of the panel's findings against Mr Du Plessis, which involved sexual activity with a child; making indecent photographs of a child; and grooming of a child, there was a strong public interest consideration in respect of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils. 'The panel further noted that Mr Du Plessis' indefinite inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register and imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order emphasised the seriousness and gravity of his conduct. 'The panel considered that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mr Du Plessis were not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession. 'The panel decided that the public interest considerations outweighed the interests of Mr Du Plessis. 'The serious and repeated nature of the offences which included a sexual relationship with a child was a significant factor in forming that opinion. 'Mr Du Plessis had not engaged with the proceedings and had provided no material demonstrating remorse or acknowledgment of the impact of his actions on the victim and their family. 'The panel determined that the case fell at the most serious end of the spectrum and that a prohibition order was necessary to protect pupils and maintain public trust.' Marc Cavey, making the decision on behalf of the Secretary of State, said: 'The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a teacher being convicted of sexual offences involving a child. 'In my judgement, the lack of evidence of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils. 'I am particularly mindful of the finding in this case of a teacher being convicted for sexual offences involving a child and the very negative impact that such a finding is likely to have on the reputation of the profession. 'In view of the seriousness of the allegation found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Du Plessis shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.' Following the sentencing, PC Bev Rainer from Staffordshire Police said: 'Officers and staff worked tirelessly to build all of the evidence needed to secure this result against another dangerous child sex offender in Staffordshire. 'I'd like to recognise the survivor for their immeasurable bravery in this case and I hope it serves as an example to other survivors out there that we are here to act against the people responsible for these crimes.'