A headteacher who had a sexual relationship with a pupil more than 20 years ago has been barred from the classroom.

North East teacher Scott Lachlan Wilson, 52, was in his late 20s when he and the girl, a Year 13 student ten years his junior at the time, struck up the relationship.

A teaching misconduct panel heard he met up with the girl at his home, swapped phone numbers and had sex with her.

Wilson, who did not attend the hearing, later became headteacher at another school in 2019. In February 2022 a parent raised safeguarding concerns about him and he was suspended from his role.

Police later spoke to the girl, referred to as Pupil A, who confirmed she had a sexual relationship with him more than 20 years ago, and he resigned from his role.

Pupil A said the relationship was “all very consensual”, saying she did not think there was anything “untoward” and that she felt him losing his job was “completely unjust”.

The teacher said he did not see that there was anything wrong at the time, but in a statement told the hearing: “I was a teacher and I should have had the self-restraint to never embark upon it.

“Looking back, it is true that the relationship was not hidden and was normalised by our families and friends.

Mr Wilson said he was sorry to Pupil A and her family for everything that has happened and wished he “behaved more responsibly at the time”.

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The misconduct panel said his “pursuit and engagement in a sexual relationship with Pupil A was inappropriate” and said he fell “significantly short” of the standards expected of a teacher.

It concluded he should be banned from teaching, but would allow him to apply for the order to be revoked after five years due to his “genuine insight and remorse”.

It means he cannot teach in any school, sixth form or college until at least June 2029.