An "arrogant" science teacher winked at students and replied to a pupil's Instagram post with a flame emoji.

David Coleman, who taught at Leigh Academy in Dartford, now faces a potential ban for bringing the profession into disrepute with his "extremely misguided attempt to be liked and accepted".

The 36-year-old, who is an ex-international discus thrower and a member of the Team GB 2014 Winter Olympics bobsleigh team, was employed by the school from 2017 until he resigned in 2020.

Described as having a "swagger" and a "cheeky persona", Mr Coleman was put before a misconduct panel this week, where he admitted calling female pupils "beautiful", "gorgeous" and "pretty".

He also knowingly followed three pupils on social media and said "bye, love you" to teenage schoolgirls.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) launched investigations into the former Olympian's behaviour after concerns were raised by the Leigh Academy.

All of the accusations against Mr Coleman - who has published a motivational book since retiring from professional sport four years ago - stretch from July 2018 to November 2019.

His social media page 'liked' a photo of a pupil in her bedroom, and commented on another with a flame emoji.

But rather than connoting that the pupil was "hot", Mr Coleman told school bosses during an internal investigation that the fire symbol was to convey a "chemical reaction" due to his profession as a biology teacher.

However, at last week's three-day misconduct hearing, he argued his Instagram account had been hacked and he therefore had no control over the activity of page.

He denied 'liking' or commenting on the photos, stressing that his profile had been compromised by an unknown user. But his "unpersuasive" arguments were dismissed by the panel.

They stressed it was "more likely than not he was responsible" and that he failed to adhere to advice from the school's principal on how to use social media.

The TRA accused Mr Coleman of having sexual motivation and attempting to gain sexual gratification from his behaviour.

"The concept fills me with disgust that it was even suggested," Mr Coleman told the hearing.

"It's so far removed from my intentions."

He said he was "absolutely mortified" to learn how students felt deeply uncomfortable with his in-person comments, and did not intend to leave them feeling uneasy.

"My intention is to create a positive environment," he said.

"I want students to feel happy and choose to come to science.

"So to discover a level of discomfort makes me feel really bad.

"There now isn't a day that goes past without me thinking about the level of appropriateness, and not going into blurred boundaries."

The panel concluded Mr Coleman did not have sexual intentions and his behaviour did not amount to unacceptable professional conduct.

Mr Coleman did, however, concede that he had "over-familiarity with students" during his early years of teaching.

"Mr Coleman did not act within the boundaries that were appropriate to the teaching profession..."

Leigh Academy HR officer Frank Lawrence, who led the internal investigation in 2019, described the former science teacher as having an arrogant 'I'm an Olympian' mindset.

"In terms of trying to get the best out of students, he tried to foster a more inclusive atmosphere than he should have done," a statement from Mr Lawrence read.

"Mr Coleman did not act within the boundaries that were appropriate to the teaching profession. I felt he was someone who wanted to exhibit a cheeky persona with students.

"I feel that he took this too far and he went beyond appropriate boundaries, particularly in the language he used with students and the use of social media."

Mr Coleman, who previously taught at Hugh Christie and Weald Of Kent schools in Tonbridge, will learn whether he faces the prospect of a teaching ban in the coming days.

The TRA is now considering whether to recommend to the Secretary of State that a prohibition order should be imposed.

Their conclusion will likely be made next week.

Retired bobsleigh racer Mr Coleman, who also holds a Guinness World Record for the most weight deadlifted by a team in one hour, is currently sports coaching at a school in Bahrain.

He did not compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics as he was a reserve.

The Leigh Academy has been approached for comment.