Newham teacher banned for life after impersonating a pupil to falsely accuse colleague of sexual assault

Sheena Boll, 36, pretended to be a 14-year-old girl from the Newham school she worked at when she made the allegations against a colleague in March 2016.

She falsely claimed that the ‘teenager’ had been sexually assaulted and that the man showed a worrying level of personal interest in her to the point of her avoiding him.

A police investigation into the source of the Childline claims resulted in Ms Boll being identified and arrested. She was also sacked by the school she worked at after admitting making the call.

Ms Boll, who gave her address at the time as Woodstock Road, Forest Gate, was handed an 11 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being convicted of malicious communications at Thames Magistrates’ Court in January last year.

She was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service and a 12 month supervision order, and ordered to pay costs and compensation.

This month, the professional conduct panel ruled that in light of her conviction, Ms Boll should be prohibited from teaching indefinitely, with no right to apply for her eligibility to be restored in future.

The report into the panel’s decision said that it “was not persuaded that Ms Boll has demonstrated any remorse”. It added: “Similarly, the panel was concerned by Ms Boll’s lack of awareness of the gravity of the situation and impact of her actions on others.”

It stated that there was no evidence to suggest that Ms Boll was acting under duress when she made the allegations, and that the panel “found the teacher’s actions to be calculated and deliberate”.

The report continued: “The panel considered that Ms Boll behaved in a malicious and untrustworthy way.

“She abused and took advantage of a crucial system that has at its core the protection and safeguarding of children.

“The panel found it particularly worrying that Ms Boll’s actions were premeditated.”

Ms Boll has 28 days to appeal the decision.