Ramesh Mal, a science instructor from Wolverhampton, has been banned from teaching after a professional conduct panel found him guilty of repeated violent behavior towards women during the Coronavirus lockdown. The 48-year-old admitted to a series of assaults that occurred outside the classroom, including grabbing a woman’s hair, pushing her head into a sofa, and placing his knee on her chest. He was also found to have throttled another woman at a pub.
Though Mal was never charged by police for some of these incidents, the Teaching Regulation Agency’s panel confirmed the misconduct took place, concluding that his actions breached teaching standards and amounted to serious professional misconduct. The panel stated that Mal’s violent behavior, fueled by alcohol, severely undermined public trust in teachers as role models and damaged the reputation of the teaching profession.
Mal, who started working at Heath Park School in 2002 initially as a science technician before becoming an unqualified science instructor in 2010, admitted to common assault in 2015 and was given a community order, restraining order, fines, and costs. In 2023, he also admitted breaching a non-molestation order and was fined and subjected to another restraining order.
READ MORE: Birmingham Primary School Teacher Arrested on Suspicion of Sexual Assault Involving Child
READ MORE: McDonald’s Denies Plans to Open New Branch on Key Birmingham-Wales Holiday Route After Job Ad Mistake
Additional allegations related to violent incidents during the 2020 lockdown were proven by the panel despite the absence of police prosecution. These included an incident where Mal allegedly knocked a woman to the sofa, grabbed her hair, and restrained her with his knee. Another allegation involved Mal strangling a woman who was trying to leave a pub, causing her to briefly lose consciousness.
The panel acknowledged Mal had personal difficulties and was described by colleagues as a caring and respected teacher who had been experiencing a tough period. However, they emphasized that his behavior was incompatible with the responsibilities and trust expected of educators.
Following the hearing, Mal was issued a prohibition order, barring him from teaching or working in any educational settings in England. The ban is in place until at least February 2031. The panel noted that Mal failed to connect the seriousness of his personal conduct to his professional role as a teacher.
Several other allegations against Mal, including inappropriate conduct toward a student and failure to notify his employer promptly about police investigations, were found not proven.