A PEMBROKE DOCK teaching assistant has been reprimanded for unacceptable professional conduct in after school karate club.

Rhys Owens, 26, was accused of inappropriately touching the girls in the after-school classes at Pembroke Dock Community School.

An Education Workforce Council hearing in Cardiff found incidents involving four pupils proven as well as the allegation that the incidents were inappropriate.

An accusation that the incidents, which included telling students to sit on his back and between his legs before lifting them off the floor by thrusting his hips, were sexually motivated was not proved.

A misconduct panel was told he ran martial arts classes for just five handpicked students - one of whom was said to be "infatuated" with him.

Staff raised concerns over his physical contact with the girls.

Presenting officer Patrick Llewelyn said: “He taught after school karate classes on Wednesday afternoons from 3.15pm to 4.15pm.”

But during a class in April 2016 Owens allegedly grabbed and lifted pupils dangerously, and hugged another from behind.

The hearing was told that the complaints were made in regards to the four children aged between 10 and 11 - referred to as Pupils A - D.

Headteacher Michelle Thomas viewed CCTV from the dining hall, where the class took place, two days later.

Mr Llywelyn added: “She noted that there were a number of occasions where there was physical contact between Rhys Owens and the pupils.

“When Pupil A was not giving him attention he went to tickle her.

“All of his attention was on the girls, the boy in the class was just in the background.

“Pupil A seemed to be infatuated with Rhys Owens.”

The panel heard that Mr Owens had been working at the 650-pupil school since April 2013 before resigning in September 2016.

Mrs Thomas said school policy was to hand letters to all students to offer after school clubs, but Mr Owens insisted on delivering them himself for his karate class.

She said that she would have expected an over subscription of interest for the club - in excess of 30 pupils or more.

But it transpired that Mr Owens only handed letters to the five pupils that attended his class, four girls and one boy.

Mrs Thomas, said two staff members warned her of their concerns after viewing the class.

She said: “They walked past the dining hall and saw Rhys Owens lifting pupils dangerously and without gym mats.”

After viewing the CCTV footage herself, Mrs Thomas added that pupil A appeared to be "infatuated" with Owens.

She said: “Pupil A was lying underneath Owens. The other children pulled her from underneath him, but she went back underneath him.

“When Pupil A was not giving him attention he went to tickle her.

“All of his attention was on the girls, the boy in the class was just in the background.

“Pupil A seemed to be infatuated with Rhys Owens.”

Mr Owens did not attend the hearing on January 24 to 26, had not responded to allegations and has no legal representation.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Owens’ registration as a school learning support worker for a period of two years.

Mr Owens had the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days of the Notice of Decision being issued to him.