BNP teacher Adam Walker vows to fight lifetime ban

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-23200095

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A British National Party (BNP) activist has vowed to take legal action in a bid to overturn a lifetime teaching ban.

Adam Walker, from Spennymoor in County Durham, was struck off last month for verbally abusing three schoolboys and chasing them in his car.

The father-of-two was also disciplined in 2010 for describing immigrants as "savage animals" in an online forum.

Mr Walker said his career was in ruins because of the controversial political views he holds.

The 44-year-old was initially given a two-year ban by a conduct panel last month for verbally abusing the schoolboys, chasing them in his car and slashing the tyres of their bikes.

'Violent actions'

He admitted he "made a mistake" but claimed he had been provoked by the boys, aged between 10 and 12, while at a St George's Day celebration in 2011.

But the Department for Education overruled the panel's decision and imposed a lifetime teaching ban, concluding that while Mr Walker was provoked, his actions were "violent, threatening and targeted at young children."

He was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and lost his driving licence for 12 months after he admitted dangerous driving at Durham Crown Court last September.

Mr Walker, a karate instructor and former teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College in Houghton-le-Spring, said he had "held his hands up" to the conduct panel but claimed the lifetime ban was "totally disproportionate".

'Justice for rich'

He said: "This sets a dangerous precedent. We're talking about the realms of thought crime.

"What I make of it is it may not necessarily be someone like myself - it could happen to anyone who might hold any type of views that do not fit in to the politically correct way of thinking.

"We may have teachers who are on the extreme left wing, who attend demonstrations against people with my views, we may have Muslim extremists in the classroom.

"I have never taken politics into the classroom."

Mr Walker said he intends to take his case to the High Court.

He added: "I don't know how I'm going to do it as it appears that justice in this country is just for the rich, but I will fight my corner even if I have to represent myself."