SCOTT Evans, a former teacher at King Arthur’s School in Wincanton, has been banned from the profession for life after being jailed for sex offences against two pupils.

In March 2021, 35-year-old geography teacher Evans was convicted of sexual offences against children at Taunton Crown Court, including of making indecent photographs and two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child.

The offences took place between February and August 2019.

He was arrested in 2019 and in April 2021, was jailed for two years and four months for the offences as well as being made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and ordered to sign the sign offenders’ register for 10 years.

Evans was found to have messaged two pupils on social media and sent indecent images of himself to them, while encouraging them to send indecent images of themselves to him.

He also admitted causing them to engage in sexual activity via social media.

Now, he has been banned from the classroom for life after a Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel hearing in last month (October).

“The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include offences involving sexcual activity, sexual communication with a child, and activity involving viewing, taking, making and possessing any indecent photograph or image, or indecent pseudo photograph or image of a child resulting in a custodial sentence,” the panel’s report said.

The ban was also justified as the panel concluded Evans “used his position as a means to engage with the pupils” when contacting them on social media, the report said.

“A prohibition order [ban] would therefore prevent such risk from being present in the future,” it added.

The ban means Evans is barred from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

He is also not permitted to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Evans has 28 days to appeal the decision.