No classroom comeback for teacher

The man previously appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court

A teacher has been told he cannot return to his former job, despite winning the right to go back into the classroom after being convicted of smacking his daughter.

North Lanarkshire Council said the 50-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is not fit to return to his teaching post.

Joe Beltrami, the man's solicitor, said the teacher was "seriously considering" an appeal against the education department's ruling.

However, the teacher is being allowed to continue working for the council's resource centre and library service on his teaching salary of £26,000.

Joe Beltrami said his client was considering an appeal

He was struck off the teaching register last year after he was convicted of assault for smacking his daughter three years ago.

But last month three Scottish Appeal Court judges said a decision by the General Teaching Council in Scotland had been flawed and ruled that it be overturned.

Mr Beltrami said his client was "disappointed" by the education department's decision yet delighted to be still working for the council.

He said: "He still feels his character has been wrongly blackened by what happened three years ago.

"It is our argument that what happened with his daughter is no way connected with his teaching, and that will be the grounds of the appeal if we decide to go ahead.

Toothache

"He is disappointed and surprised at the decision of the board that he is unfit to teach, but quite happy that he will be continuing in the job he has been doing with the council for the last three years."

The teacher was suspended after he was found guilty at Hamilton Sheriff Court in 1999 of assaulting his then eight-year-old daughter.

He had slapped her when she became hysterical at a dentists' surgery after refusing to be treated for toothache in December 1998.

The incident took place in front of medical staff who reported the father to social services.

He was admonished by the sheriff after the case.

North Lanarkshire Council declined to comment on the case.