THE former head of Celtic’s Learning Centre has escaped being struck off the teaching register for fraud.
Anthony Russell spent more than £1,000 of Glasgow City Council’s cash to buy Celtic season tickets.
Russell was fined £500 at court and resigned from his post as principal teacher at the Learning Centre, which provides additional educational support to primary and secondary school children in the west of Scotland.
But Russell, 58, has been shown leniency by Scotland’s teaching watchdog after he agreed to be reprimanded over the fraud between 2012 and 2014.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) said the matter “did constitute an abuse of a position of trust” but no child was harmed and the matter had been admitted.
The GTCS added: “The teacher had repaid the sums involved and had clearly reflected on the matter having pled guilty to the charge before trial.
“There was no evidence that the teacher had previously acted dishonestly and the conduct has not been repeated. The teacher had a long and unblemished career and had produced a number of supporting statements.”
The GTCS charge against Russell stated that on June 2 this year, at Glasgow Sheriff Court, he was convicted of pretending “to your employer, Glasgow City Council, that season tickets were for the legitimate use of the Celtic Learning Centre, when in fact said season tickets were for your personal use”.
The fraud took place between August 1, 2012, and May 31, 2014, at Celtic Football Club Learning Centre, Celtic Football Club, Parkhead and at the City Chambers, Glasgow, added the charge.
According to press reports from the court hearing, Russell bought two season tickets using council funds for the 2012-13 season and four for the following season costing the council £1,039.
Russell’s solicitor was reported to have told the court it was a “considerable fall from grace” for his client, who described it as “the biggest mistake of his life”.
The Celtic Learning Centre, operated by the club and city council, provides programmes and sessions for children, with the aim of “promoting the benefits of education, healthy living and social inclusion”.
As part of the learning centre’s programme, pupils get the chance to go to home matches accompanied by an adult or guardian.
The centre, which opened in February 2006, states on its website that: “Our ability to deliver education to those in need can range from Celtic Learning Centre sessions – which now forms part of Celtic FC Foundation, through assisted learning, scholarships, providing musical instruments, digital learning, adult learning and life management.
“These provisions are not exhaustive and allow us to continue to help build a confident and self-sufficient community.”
Season tickets for the Celtic currently start at £50 for children, £334 for over-65s and £466 for adults.
