Teaching assistant who told fake sob story to go on Rome holiday caught out when boyfriend posted glam pics on Facebook

A TEACHING assistant who told a fake sob story to get out of work was caught red-handed when her boyfriend posted glam pictures of her holidaying in Rome.

Ella Griffith, 25, was snapped eating pasta, guzzling cocktails and getting steamy in a hot tub when she should have been in class.

WNSElla Griffith had told staff at her primary school she needed two and half days off because she had a ‘serious personal matter at home’[/caption]

WNSBut she was later seen holidaying in Rome with her boyfriend – after he posted a series of romantic snaps on Facebook[/caption]

WNSColleagues spotted the steamy pics, which included the couple in a hot tub[/caption]

Miss Griffith had told staff at her primary school she needed two and half days off because she had a “serious personal matter at home”.

But she used the long weekend to fly to Italy with her boyfriend instead, who later posted pictures of her posing at the Colosseum, Vatican City and the Forum, a misconduct panel heard.

The Education Workforce Council heard Miss Griffith was employed as a learning support assistant working 30 hours weeks at Ysgol Cybi school in Holyhead, Anglesey.

Headteacher Rhian Grieve said Miss Griffith asked for some time off just days after schools returned in September last year following closures due to the pandemic.

Ms Grieve said: “She spoke with me on September 17, 2020, and asked to leave early the following day and return on September 23.

“The situation appeared critical in that Ella Griffith’s family needed her and she requested compassionate leave.”

The headteacher said she was then alerted by other staff members that Miss Griffith’s boyfriend posted pictures of them posing in front of a Roman fountain.

Other pictures included the couple drinking in an ice bar, riding on e-scooters through the city and various sightseeing snaps.

She said when Miss Griffith was confronted about her absence upon returning she initially lied saying she had flown to Italy over the weekend.

Ms Grieve said Miss Griffith was asked to provide her airline tickets as proof but then later “confessed she’d lied at the length of time away.”

The panel heard she then failed to turn up to the school for the following two days – texting bosses to say she wouldn’t be in.

Miss Griffith, who is not at the hearing and has since left the school, is accused of five misconduct allegations relating to her time away and the subsequent days after.

She has not entered any pleas to the allegations and is not present.

If found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct she faces being struck from the teaching register.

The hearing, held via Zoom, continues.

WNSMiss Griffith initially told her boss she had only flown out on the weekend[/caption]

WNSHer colleagues had told Miss Griffith’s boss they had seen the snaps online[/caption]

WNSThe couple enjoyed cocktails together[/caption]

WNSThe couple posed outside the city’s tourist hotspots[/caption]