Drink-drive teacher keeps his job

Governors said they had investigated the case thoroughly

A teacher from Kent who hit two pupils with his car when twice over the drink-drive limit has been allowed to keep his job.

Christopher Burke, 41, a teacher at Herne Bay High School, was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £300 after backing into the students.

The father of one of the boys called for Burke to be sacked but the other father said it was a one-off mistake.

Now governors at the school have decided he should continue to teach.

Dislocated shoulder

In a statement the governors of the school, said: "The governing body has investigated thoroughly the circumstances leading to the conviction of Christopher Burke.

"It has decided that Mr Burke will continue to be employed as a teacher at Herne Bay High School in accordance with his existing contract."

Mr Burke, a father-of-two, had been drinking at his home when he decided to drive to a nearby Chinese takeaway.

When he reversed out of the restaurant, his Peugeot car hit Aaron Geer, 17, and Steven Fulks, 16, who were sitting on mopeds, Canterbury Magistrates' Court was told.

The father of one of the boys, David Geer, had urged governors not to sack the teacher.

One of the students suffered a dislocated shoulder as a result of the incident.