Axed teacher was training to be Police Reserve

Gareth Lewis, a married father of two, was sacked from Bermuda High School for Girls this week.

The family of the girl, who is younger than 16, has declined to make a complaint or give her cellphone to police.

Unethical

A police source said: “The family has refused to provide any information or turn over the phone.”

They added that officers had tried to talk to everyone involved but a formal criminal investigation has not been launched.

The source said: “There are certain things which are not criminal but are unethical and that would be a matter for the school, not the police.”

A police spokesman refused to confirm whether Lewis was a trainee reserve officer or if the family were cooperating with officers.

He said: “The Bermuda Police Service received a report of inappropriate communication between a teacher and a student at one of the island’s private schools and inquiries into this matter are underway.

“Even though the individual’s name and likeness has been promulgated in the local media, the Bermuda Police Service has not released his name or any information surrounding this inquiry as we believe it is critical that due process in this matter is followed.”

Mr. Lewis, head of languages in the secondary department at the private school, was sacked after being accused of sending a series of text messages over the past week.

The Spanish teacher, originally from the south of London, England, has taught at the school for eight years and was involved in running the senior football team.

His wife is also a teacher at the school. Mr. Lewis, who is in his 30s, has also taken leading roles in productions by both the Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society.

He played the title role in the 2009 pantomime Robin Hood staged at Hamilton’s City Hall and has appeared in the Firebird and Snow White pantomimes.

Mr. Lewis previously taught at CedarBridge Academy from 1998 to 2000 before leaving Bermuda, returning to teach at BHS in 2003.

Secure

It is believed he left the island the day the allegations about the text messages were made public.

The school issued a statement to The Royal Gazette, printed yesterday.

It read: “BHS is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all of its students and requires the highest professional standards for all its teachers.”