Andrew Peacock, former deputy head of department at Hetton Academy, stripped off and went for a walk by the River Tyne in Hebburn and told police he was a naturist
A maths teacher was caught strolling naked in a street by stunned pubgoers.
Andrew Peacock, who had been deputy head of department at Hetton Academy, was spotted walking without clothes by the River Tyne in Hebburn. He told police he was a naturist and went on to accept a caution for a public order offence – causing harassment, alarm or distress.
He was then accused of four allegations at a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing – which were found proven in February and he has been banned from teaching indefinitely.
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Peacock was employed at Hetton Academy from April 2013 as a maths teacher and later became the deputy department head before resigning in May, 2024, he resigned.
It was on November 11, 2023, that witnesses spotted Peacock naked in the residential area. A report of the TRA hearing said: “[A witness] described their friend having seen a male coming from the gates by the water edge. He stated that they all turned to look and the male was walking towards them.
“The witness stated that he noticed that the male was fully naked. He stated that the male noticed them and turned the other way. He went towards the male who ran and the witness saw him getting into a car.
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“He stated that the male drove up and down the street three times and the witness’s friend had called the police. He stated that he felt concerned about seeing the ‘naked man, late at night, wearing no clothes’.”
Peacock was soon stopped in his car by the police, and was found with a grey hoody placed over his lap with his bare legs showing. In interview Peacock confirmed that he had been naked in public and “referred to being a naturist and taking naked walks”.
He said that he had been fully naked except for wearing trainers but had “taken reasonable steps beforehand to ensure he was not seen”. He stated that he had been out of his car for around 30 seconds to a minute and that when he heard voices he returned to his car so as not to cause any offence.
He was asked by officers if he had obtained any sexual gratification from people seeing him walk in public naked and he answered “no”. He was asked if he intended for anyone who would have or may have seen him to feel alarm or distressed, and answered “no” but understood that some people could feel that way.
As part of the school’s investigation, Peacock prepared a statement in which he described himself as a “naturist”. He stated that on the evening, he had been delivering food as part of his second job as a delivery driver and decided that he wanted to go for a walk by the river, reported ChronicleLive.
His statement said: “I figured that there might be a place by the river where I could walk naked away from the public gaze.” He stated that he parked up and removed his clothing within the car and was outside naked for less than a minute before he thought he heard voices. He quickly returned to his vehicle and drove away from the area.
In the notes of Peacock’s interview as part of the school’s investigation, he referred to being a naturist and that he would ordinarily practise his naturism in rural places and usually within a controlled environment. He stated that, on this particular occasion, although the area was classed as a residential area, it was on the fringes of land next to a river.
He said that he had not gone into the countryside because it was late and dark so had sought to find somewhere that was “very quiet” and where “I was unlikely to be seen” but where there was some lighting so he could see what he was doing.
In representations to the TRA, Peacock said that he has been a naturist intermittently for several years and explained that it has been a therapeutic activity. The report said: “On the evening in question, he stated that he sought a quiet, isolated location for personal reflection.”
The TRA panel also found it proved that Peacock failed to inform Hetton Academy of his arrest and that his conduct lacked integrity and/or was dishonest. The panel was satisfied that his conduct amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.
The panel was also satisfied that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and that his actions constituted conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.
The panel said: “The findings of misconduct are serious, and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individual’s status as a teacher. The panel considered that Mr Peacock’s conduct could potentially damage the public’s perception of a teacher.”
Peacock is now prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until February 16, 2028.
