Portlethen Academy teacher banned for web sex offence
A teacher who admitted internet sexual offences involving a pupil at an Aberdeenshire school has been banned from the profession.
Former Portlethen Academy physics teacher Mark Robertson was earlier placed on probation after admitting engaging in sexual conversations.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) decided to remove Robertson from the register.
He has the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Session.
Mr Robertson, of Cove Bay, did not attend the disciplinary sub-committee hearing in Edinburgh.
The offences happened between December 2007 and January 2008.
The conversations started innocently, but changed to a sexual nature.
The crime only came to light when the teenager later reported what had happened to an adult in 2009.
The GTCS committee said in the ruling: "The sub-committee was told that the particular behaviour was at the less serious end of the spectrum.
"Nevertheless, the conviction was in relation to behaviour of a sexual nature involving a pupil.
"It constituted an abuse of trust. The behaviour brought the profession as a whole into disrepute and would impact upon public confidence in the teaching profession."