A teacher, who tried to buy a pupil’s silence after sending her sexual messages including asking whether she was a virgin, has been banned.

Enda Feeney, 58, who taught biology at Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green, sent messages to a girl at the school. 

A professional conduct panel was told that he asked her if she’d “be up for cuddles and kisses” and if she was “still a virgin”. 

He also told her he wanted to meet up outside school. When asked why, he responded: “I like you so it would be pretty much up to what you wanted.” 

Feeney admitted that he paid the pupil £500 “to stop all this nonsense”. 

During a police interview he said: “She said if I don’t give her £3,000 by the end of the month she would send it to work. 

“I thought my life was over… after an exchange we agreed on £500.” 

The pupil had been contacted anonymously by a person she thought was “some random sugar daddy”. 

But she later worked out from photos and voice recordings on his profile that it was Feeney, the panel heard.

Her suspicions were confirmed after she agreed to meet the person who had been messaging her. 

She also alleged he had been asking her for "nude pictures".

He was suspended in March 2021 when the allegations came to light.

In October of that year, police confirmed that no further action would be taken against Feeney as the pupil was not willing to provide an evidential statement. 

The panel heard how Feeney admitted sending the messages and meeting the pupil outside of school in a police interview. 

He said: “I out of curiosity downloaded [a social media app] and put some likes on her videos. 

“She wanted to know who I was and after some exchange of text happened she asked how old I was and I said 54 and she asked if I wanted to be her sugar daddy and I must have agreed and she said she would send me naughty pictures for £20. And I don’t know I must have been possessed. 

“She sent me bank details and I didn’t want to do that so arranged money to be collected at a bus stop.” 

The panel ruled, except for the £500 payment, that his actions had been sexually motivated or of a sexual nature. 

Feeney has been banned from teaching at any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children’s home in England indefinitely.