A teacher who sent more than 160 WhatsApp messages to a pupil has been banned from the profession.

Richard Hill, a former science teacher at Trafalgar School in Portsmouth, exchanged emails and messages with the girl over a two week period in June 2024, some of which she said made her feel "uncomfortable".

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel deemed the messages unprofessional and over-familiar, but said there was no evidence they were sexually motivated.

Hill, in a written response, described his conduct as "a poor lapse in judgement" and said he deeply regretted not raising it with senior leaders at the earliest opportunity.

The panel heard the pair began emailing via Hill's school account before he gave her his personal email address and mobile number.

More than 140 of his WhatsApp messages were sent after 18:00 BST. Some of the conversations continued until just after midnight.

In one message he wrote: "You are the absolute exception in terms of contact details."

In another he said: "Don't make me have to punish you!", which the pupil told the panel made her feel "icky".

She told the panel she now had "some trust issues and anxiety, particularly with men".

The school received a complaint from the girl's mother in July 2024 and suspended Hill. He was arrested, but police took no further action. He was fired by the school in November that year.

Hill, who did not attend the virtual hearing, admitted most of the allegations but denied any sexual motive.

The panel said his conduct was "at the lower level of seriousness", but decision maker Marc Cavey, acting for the Education Secretary, said publication of the findings alone was not enough, citing the seriousness of the misconduct and Hill's "incomplete insight".

Cavey overruled the panel's recommendation and banned Hill from teaching indefinitely.

Hill can apply to have the ban lifted from October 2028, and has 28 days to appeal to the High Court.

Trafalgar School has been approached for comment.