Daniel Duhig banned from teaching after child sex offence conviction
Former Godwin Primary School teacher received suspended sentence and seven-year sex offender registration
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A former primary school teacher has been banned indefinitely from teaching in England after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Daniel Duhig, 29, who taught Year 2 at Godwin Primary School in Dagenham, received a suspended prison sentence and was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.
Duhig was arrested on 8 January 2024 after sending explicit messages to someone he believed to be an underage girl between 28 December 2023 and 5 January 2024. The messages included asking if the child was a virgin and stating he wanted to join her in bed. The Teaching Regulation Agency reported these details in a misconduct hearing published on 17 August 2025.
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School dismissal and legal consequences
Godwin Primary School placed Duhig on garden leave on 17 January 2024, nine days after his arrest. He was formally dismissed on 2 May 2024. The offence did not involve any pupil at the school, according to the Teaching Regulation Agency.
Duhig pleaded guilty at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 15 April 2025. On 19 May 2025, he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, placed on the sex offenders register for seven years, and required to pay a £153 victim surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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Teaching Regulation Agency decision
The Teaching Regulation Agency panel concluded that Duhig should be banned from teaching indefinitely. Decision maker David Oatley stated that allowing for no review period was necessary to maintain public confidence in the profession. The panel noted that Duhig had initially asked the school for another chance to continue his career.
I consider therefore that allowing for no review period is necessary to maintain public confidence and is proportionate and in the public interest.
David Oatley, Teaching Regulation Agency decision maker
The panel’s report highlighted concerns over the content of Duhig’s messages, which included comments about the child’s popularity with boys and whether she was a virgin. Duhig initially claimed he was unaware of the child’s age but later admitted the offence.
What happens next
Duhig remains subject to the conditions of his suspended sentence and the sex offenders register until 2032. He is prohibited from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children’s home in England. The Teaching Regulation Agency has confirmed there is no possibility of review for his prohibition order.
Questions this report answers
+What was Daniel Duhig convicted of?
Daniel Duhig was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The offence involved sending explicit messages to someone he believed was underage between December 2023 and January 2024.
+What sentence did Daniel Duhig receive?
Duhig received a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years, and ordered to pay a £153 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs on 19 May 2025.
+Can Daniel Duhig ever teach again?
No. The Teaching Regulation Agency banned Duhig from teaching in England indefinitely, with no possibility of review. He cannot work in any school, sixth form college, or children’s home.
+Was any child at Godwin Primary School involved in the offence?
No. The offence did not involve any pupil at Godwin Primary School. Duhig was dismissed from the school on 2 May 2024 following his arrest on 8 January 2024.
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