Teachers sacked for child porn and theft

Published on Monday 23 February 2009 08:49

DOZENS of teachers and support staff have been sacked or suspended from Lothian schools for reasons ranging from downloading child pornography to stealing, it can be revealed today.

Around 30 have been disciplined in recent years, according to figures released by local authorities to the Evening News under freedom of information laws.

While Edinburgh and West Lothian detailed the numbers of staff involved, only East Lothian Council responded in full, with reasons as to why each person was disciplined.

Midlothian Council refused to disclose any details, claiming that it would breach data protection laws.

Since 2004, East Lothian has sacked seven employees who were working in schools, including one primary teacher and one headteacher.

Andrew Melville, who was head at Musselburgh's Whitecraig Primary, was suspended for 20 weeks by the authority after being charged with having pornographic images of children on his home computer.

He was subsequently sacked and sentenced to community service when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at the end of last year.

East Lothian also sacked a janitor in 2004 for alcohol-related problems, and a temporary primary teacher the following year when their contract ran out for "inappropriate conduct".

In 2006 a cleaner was suspended for 14 weeks after the authority discovered he had been using a false name when he was disclosure checked when applying for a new job, and he was later sacked.

That same year a primary teacher was suspended for 12 weeks for "manhandling" a pupil, while a janitor was sacked after being charged with rape. In 2007 another janitor was dismissed for unauthorised absence and a secondary school cook was suspended for 38 weeks, and then sacked, over allegations of theft.

In Edinburgh nine teachers and nine school support staff have either been sacked or suspended since 2006.

Three teachers in West Lothian were disciplined for competency issues and child protection issues between 2007-8, while a leisure assistant resigned, a supervisory assistant received counselling and a support worker was dismissed, all over child protection issues.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian council said: "The decisions taken were carried out in accordance with internal disciplinary procedures taking into account, in some cases, national employment and criminal law.

"It would be inappropriate to comment in detail on any of these individuals."