Teacher Struck Off for Failing to Disclose Paedophile Fiancé's Conviction A teacher who failed to disclose that his paedophile fiancé was convicted of ten sexual offences against young boys has been struck off. The 31-year-old was suspended from Heathfield, an independent girls' school in Ascot, Berkshire, after his partner Matthew Linfield was jailed for six-and-a-half years for his sick crimes. A teacher who failed to disclose that his paedophile fiancé was convicted of ten sexual offences against young boys has been struck off. Thomas Ridgway, 31, was suspended from Heathfield, an independent girls' school in Ascot, Berkshire, after his partner Matthew Linfield was jailed for six-and-a-half years for his sick crimes. However the £56,000-a-year private school only became aware that the photography teacher's fiancé was a paedophile after an email from a member of the public. An employment tribunal has now banned Mr Ridgway from teaching after he failed to disclose Linfield's conviction, and later prison sentence, or that Linfield was subsequently added to the sex offender register for life.Mr Ridgway, who began working at Heathfield as a photography technician in 2019, denied the allegations but was found guilty by a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel. There is no suggestion that Mr Ridgway was accused of any crime himself.However, from social media posts reviewed by the Daily Mail, it appears Mr Ridgway and his paedophile fiancé continued their romantic relationship after Linfield was convicted up as the teacher posted selfies of them together up until the paedophile had been sentenced. In June 2023, Linfield was convicted after being reported to police in April 2021 for offering a boy money in exchange for sexual favours before sending the child an indecent image of himself, according to local media at the time.Thomas Ridgway has been struck off after he failed to disclose that his paedophile fiancé Matthew Linfield had been convicted of child sex offences. This image was posted online by Mr Ridgway in August 2023, two months after Linfield's conviction Mr Ridgway had worked as a photography teacher at the £56,000-a-year independent girls' school Heathfield in Berkshire (pictured).He resigned in February 2024 shortly after he was suspended the previous month It was then discovered that Linfield had pressured a second victim between the ages of 11 and 13 into engaging in sexual activity in return for money and food. The paedophile had sexually assaulted a third victim on several occasions and in December 2023 was jailed for six-and-a-half years. In total, Linfield was convicted of ten offences of sexual activity with a boy.They all occurred in the Lancashire towns of Burnley and Colne. But social media posts have revealed that Mr Ridgway appeared to have remained in a relationship with Linfield after he was convicted, as the photography teacher shared images of the pair together in October 2023 - four months after the conviction but two months before Linfield was jailed in December.As the last photos of the couple together on social media date back to October 2023, it is not known whether they are still in a romantic relationship. However, Mr Ridgway was represented at the tribunal by Brian Linfield, who is believed to be a relative of the teacher's then-fiancé. Mr Ridgway was accused of not disclosing to Heathfield School that Linfield was being investigated by police for the sexual offences in or around 2023.The tribunal found this allegation not proved. However, Mr Ridgway was also accused of not disclosing Linfield's conviction or prison sentence and the fact that his fiancé was ordered to sign the sex offender register between June 19, 2023 and December 14, 2023. The TRA found these allegations proved and the 31-year-old, who did not give evidence, has now been struck off.The tribunal heard that Mr Ridgway had known Linfield since around 2018 and that the couple had been living together since January 2022. Heathfield were first made aware of Linfield's conviction after a member of the public sent an email to the school including a link to a news article from the sentencing - after which staff approached Mr Ridgway and he told them of the conviction.Pictured: Convicted child sex offender Matthew Linfield is pictured in a police mugshot The photography teacher said the cases were historical and that prior to Linfield's remand the pair had been living together. In a meeting, Mr Ridgway was noted as having told colleagues regarding his fiancé's crimes: 'I have known since the start. We have always been open about things, even things he has not been proud about.'I was not aware of all the ins and outs, but I was aware of things that had occurred previously. I was made aware of all the allegations against Person A (who is believed to be Linfield) in 2021…' However, according to tribunal documents, Mr Ridgway claimed he was 'given no information as to what the actual allegations were, only that they were very serious (REDACTED) allegations'.The teacher 'relied upon, in particular, upon the fact that Person A: was never arrested; was not subject to a trial; and refused to allow him to attend any court appearance, police interview or solicitor appointment', according to tribunal documents