Teaching assistant who 'glassed' woman can continue working in schools

A teaching assistant handed a suspended jail sentence for unlawful wounding has been told she can stay on the professional register to work. Sophie Nia Thomas received a reprimand but remains able to work in schools in Wales despite the conviction.

Thomas thanked the Education Workforce Council Wales fitness to practise committee which judged that it would be disproportionate to strike her off, despite the seriousness of the conviction.

Visibly relieved at the outcome, Thomas told the panel: "Thank you for all your patience and understanding. Thank you." 

The young teaching assistant, who worked at St Thomas Community Primary School in Swansea, threw a hard plastic drink container at her victim, which caught her in the face and caused a gash to her forehead, Swansea Crown Court previously heard.

Thomas was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, when she appeared before the court in November 2024.

Swansea Crown Court heard that on November 4, 2023 the complainant in the case – a student paramedic – was out socialising with housemates in Swansea's Wind Street and the group ended up in the Proud Mary bar.

Thomas and her sister were also in the pub that night. The court heard that as the group of friends left the toilets, one of their number accidentally bumped into the defendant, or her sister, causing a drink to be spilled. The group apologised for the incident and returned to the dancefloor.

However 30 seconds later Thomas approached the group of friends "aggressively" and began shouting at them and making threats of violence. The prosecutor said moments later Thomas threw her drink over the group and the container itself which struck the student paramedic in the face causing "immediate sharp pain".

Police were called and arrested Thomas outside the bar. The victim was taken to hospital where a 2cm-long gash to the forehead was cleaned and glued shut. In an impact statement read to the court the victim said the assault left her anxious, struggling to sleep and not wanting to socialise. She had also been conscious of the wound on her forehead which she felt people were staring at.

Appearing in court, Thomas, of Gelli Grafog, Port Tennant, Swansea, then aged 24, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

As well as a suspended prison sentence she was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and to pay the victim £1,000 compensation.

The matter was then referred to professional registering body the Education Workforce Council Wales which has now heard the case.

An EWC fitness to practise hearing, held remotely on on March 3, 2026, was told that the offence, admitted by Thomas, was incompatible with her registration as a teaching assistant.

EWC presenting officer Kira Evans told the panel that Thomas' actions that night risked damaging the reputation of St Thomas Community Primary, where she had worked since 2017, as well as the teaching profession as a whole.

Thomas was present at the hearing, but not represented. Her request to give her evidence behind closed doors was agreed by panel chair Steve Powell.

But she spoke in public to confirm her name and that she admitted the two allegations before the committee - that she had been convicted and sentenced for unlawful wounding and that this amounted to a relevant offence in terms of her remaining on the EWC professional register as a teaching assistant. She also spoke in public to thank the panel.

Ms Evans told the panel that Thomas' actions that night "called into question her thinking skills and ability to exercise judgement". As a role model her behaviour had been inconsistent with a role in education.

"The sentence reflects the severity of the offence," Miss Evans told the committee. "It has material relevance to her fitness to practise and as a registered person."

But the panel judged that there were mitigating factors which warranted keeping Thomas on the register. Instead they imposed a reprimand which will stay on her EWC registration for two years.

Chair Steve Powell said Thomas had a previously unblemished record, had admitted the offence immediately and informed her headteacher of it the next day.

"She showed insight and remorse and engaged with the EWC proceedings," he added.

Thomas, who was described as under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offence, had explained to the panel, in private, that personal matters at the time of the incident had impacted her judgement.

Given these factors, the committee did not judge that there was a risk she would repeat the behaviour.

However, Mr Powell said her behaviour had been unacceptable and must not be repeated.

"This was a serious matter and a concerning lack of judgement, which she accepted," he said.

"The committee viewed this as an isolated incident."

He added that the panel commended the former teaching assistant for "realising her health was impacted and (had) removed herself from the school".

Drawing the case to a close he wished Thomas good luck and reminded her to abide by the EWC code of conduct in future.

She will have to notify any new, or potential new, school employer of the EWC reprimand on her registration.

Thomas has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.