A TEACHER who was cleared by a crown court of sex offences has been banned from teaching for life after a disciplinary panel heard he had a sexual relationship with a pupil.

The National College of Teaching and Leadership panel (NCTL) believed allegations made by two of Keith John Wright's former pupils from Testbourne Community School, despite him being cleared of offences by Salisbury Crown Court in April 2014, following a five day trial.

The 50-year-old, who denied the allegations, failed to attend the National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) hearing held last month, where he was accused of kissing, touching, having oral sex and attempting to have sexual intercourse with one of his pupils.

He was also alleged to have met her alone outside of school, exchanged texts with her, shown her pornographic material on his laptop and driven her to a pub where he bought her an alcoholic drink.

Mr Wright began teaching at Testbourne in September 2000, and his relationship with the pupil was alleged to have happened within his first year at the school.

However, she did not report the matter to police until March 2013 - 13 years after it was alleged to have taken place.

Mr Wright was charged with five counts of indecent assault, but was acquitted following the trial.

But the NCTL panel found the allegations proved after hearing evidence from his victim.

The girl, identified as Pupil A, said she was attracted to Mr Wright and told him she had a "soft spot" for him, to which she said his response was: "I feel like I have found the woman of my dreams but she is too young".

She told the panel that Mr Wright would drive her to the Whitchurch Silk Mill car park, before driving to a more secluded place where they engaged in sexual activity.

She also claimed he took her back to his home, where they went to his bedroom.

A second pupil, identified as Pupil B, gave evidence stating that she had accompanied Pupil A and Mr Wright to a pub, where he bought them alcoholic drinks.

Mr Wright wrote in Pupil A's yearbook: "It's been a pleasure to teach such a charming young lady over the past year. Remember don't postpone anything that will add laughter, fun and happiness to your love, believe in love at first sight and close your eyes when you kiss - its (sic) rude to stare. All the best, love Keith xxx."

Evidence considered by the panel from the crown court trial included a statement from Mr Wright in which he told the court he knew his pupil had feelings for him but told her nothing could happen.

However, he admitted that he had started a sexual relationship with her after she had left school in June or July.

But the panel did not accept this, and said: "It was clear that Mr Wright himself gave evidence about a sexual relationship with Pupil A. Furthermore, whilst he suggested that this took place after Pupil A had left school, the panel found that she remained a pupil at the school until the end of August."

The panel concluded that "Pupil A was a credible and reliable witness who had not attempted to embellish or exaggerate her evidence."

It said Mr Wright's conduct was "sexually motivated" and ruled that it amounted to "unacceptable professional conduct" which was likely to bring the teaching profession into disrepute.

The panel considered "supportive and relevant" references submitted by Mr Wright, and said: "There was nothing to suggest that Mr Wright was anything but a competent teacher."

It concluded that Mr Wright's behaviour was "wholly incompatible with being a teacher" and said Pupil A's academic progress and fulfilment had been prejudiced by Mr Wright's conduct.

Ruling that Mr Wright should be struck off the teaching register and never be given the opportunity to seek to return to teaching, Jayne Millions, NCTL head of teacher misconduct, said a ban was both "proportionate and appropriate" because his conduct represented a "gross breach and abuse of the position of trust held by teachers".

She added: "I agree with the panel’s view that sexual misconduct of this seriousness inevitably ran the risk of undermining pupils, the school and the profession. There was no indication of any insight or remorse having been shown by Mr Wright."