A TEACHER who stole a purse from a nightclub has escaped being struck off.
Scott Renwick, a teacher at Turriff Academy in Aberdeenshire, was fined £150 for the theft at Dusk nightclub in Stirling on 12 February 2013.
The biology and science teacher found the purse, which contained 300 Kroner – around £33 – and £5 in cash, but did not attempt to find its true owner.
Mr Renwick, whose address was given in court as Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, has now agreed to be given a year-long reprimand by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
The 23-year-old teacher was convicted of the offence at Stirling Sheriff Court on 16 April 2013.
He pled guilty to a charge that he “did find and without attempting to identify the true owner steal a purse, 300 Kroner, £5 cash” at the nightclub.
He admitted in a GTCS report to his conviction, saying: “I admit that the above means that my fitness to teach is impaired.
“I freely and willingly consent to a reprimand being imposed upon me in view of my admission of the allegation set out above.”
The GTCS panel noted he “demonstrated that he has reflected on the matter and shown remorse” and “there is evidence attesting to [Mr Renwick’s] good character and history.”
A full GTCS hearing was not heard on the case because of his admission and because the complain about him did not “constitute an abuse of a position of trust.”
The reprimand will stay on his record for one year.
Turriff Academy has around 650 pupils and more than 80 teaching staff.
