Sports teacher faces lifetime ban after conviction for running a brothel

Emma Caddow
WVoN co-editor 

A British sports teacher, Tim Blake-Bowell, faces a lifetime ban from his profession after being convicted a few years ago of running a brothel from his flat in Canterbury, England.

The secondary school teacher served four months in 2009 after pleading guilty to the charge of controlling prostitutes for financial gain.

Whilst selling your body for money is not illegal in England, profiting from prostitution is.

The 51 year old pimped out six women, including his wife at the time, and would work as a prostitute himself when the demand arose.

All whilst teaching physical education at the King Ethelbert School in Birchington, Kent, between 2004 and 2007.

His now ex-wife Emma, who has worked as an escort since 2004, also pleaded guilty to the same charge.

But her sentence was suspended when the judge deemed her as being susceptible to pressure from her then husband due to her vulnerable mental health.

Emma Blake-Bowell was said to have suffered both an abusive childhood and a violent relationship with her former partner, who fathered her eldest two children.

She had met Tim Blake-Bowell whilst living in a women’s refuge in Canterbury.

Whilst they were married she worked as a receptionist and secretary in the brothel the couple advertised as “Jem’s” or “Pandora’s”.

The sports master paid £560 a month to rent the Canterbury flat and spent another £1,400 a month on advertising.

The brothel was staffed from 11am until midnight with the women charging £40 for a massage, £60 for 30 minutes of sex and £100 for a full hour.

Although Blake-Bowell used only ‘willing’ British women, the operation was uncovered during a Kent Police probe into illegal sex-trafficking from Eastern Europe.

Blake-Bowell had been described as a ‘dedicated teacher’ at the 700-pupil mixed comprehensive.

School sources said they were astonished to learn of his involvement. One mother described the accused as a ‘model teacher’.

Yesterday Blake-Bowell was found guilty of professional misconduct.

The father-of-two was told his actions had placed him in direct contravention of the teaching code of conduct.

“It is in direct contravention of section eight of the code of conduct, which states a teacher must maintain reasonable standards in his own behaviour, always trying to maintain an effective learning environment and maintaining public trust in the profession,” said the presenting officer.

Blake-Bowell lost his job at King Ethelbert School in December 2007 shortly after his arrest – although he was allowed to stay on until the end of term.

At the Teaching Agency panel yesterday, chairman Dr Roland Kitchen said:

“A decision on whether he [Blake-Bowell] will be banned from teaching for life is expected in two weeks time.”

Blake-Bowell said he had no plans to return to the profession.