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Sex teacher struck off at hearing | Sex teacher struck off at hearing |
(40 minutes later) | |
A former Aberdeen teacher who had sex with a 15-year-old pupil has been struck off after a disciplinary hearing. | A former Aberdeen teacher who had sex with a 15-year-old pupil has been struck off after a disciplinary hearing. |
Alison Smith, who was a teacher at the city's Bankhead Academy, confessed her behaviour to church associates and her parents before going to the police. | Alison Smith, who was a teacher at the city's Bankhead Academy, confessed her behaviour to church associates and her parents before going to the police. |
Smith was placed on probation and given 200 hours community service in January. | Smith was placed on probation and given 200 hours community service in January. |
She was struck off at the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) conviction hearing on Monday. | |
Smith had been charged in July last year over the allegations of an inappropriate relationship. | Smith had been charged in July last year over the allegations of an inappropriate relationship. |
In the public interest young people should be protected from this kind of behaviour. There was no option but to remove her name from the register James ThewlissGTCS committee convener | |
The incident had happened last June when Smith was visited at home by the pupil. There she had what she described as consensual sex with him. | The incident had happened last June when Smith was visited at home by the pupil. There she had what she described as consensual sex with him. |
One of the boy's parents said in a written testimonial to Aberdeen Sheriff Court it had not had any long-term psychological effect on him. | One of the boy's parents said in a written testimonial to Aberdeen Sheriff Court it had not had any long-term psychological effect on him. |
Sheriff Kieran McLernan told Smith: "On the face of it, this offence is normally regarded with considerable seriousness because it's one form of a significant abuse of trust. | Sheriff Kieran McLernan told Smith: "On the face of it, this offence is normally regarded with considerable seriousness because it's one form of a significant abuse of trust. |
"It was an effect of your own conscience which brought this matter to light. | "It was an effect of your own conscience which brought this matter to light. |
"Human weakness is not often best dealt with by public punishment but it is a matter of public interest where there is a breach of trust." | "Human weakness is not often best dealt with by public punishment but it is a matter of public interest where there is a breach of trust." |
Smith was also placed on the sex offenders register. | Smith was also placed on the sex offenders register. |
'Breach of trust' | |
The GTCS committee unanimously ruled that Smith - who was not at the hearing - should be removed from the teaching register. | |
The committee was told that Smith had written to the GTCS, stating: "I wish to be removed from the register effective immediately. I accept my actions will see me removed from the register." | |
Announcing the decision, committee convener James Thewliss said the offence was a "grave breach of trust". | |
He said: "In the public interest young people should be protected from this kind of behaviour. | |
"Accordingly there was no option but to remove her name from the register." |
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