A FORMER North-East teacher has been banned from the classroom for life after calling television personality John Barrowman a four-letter word in front of shocked pupils.

Kieran Sumanria Patel was the subject of a professional conduct hearing in Coventry in relation to comments he made whilst teaching at Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, and an offence of fraud at the Cheadle Centre, in Sunderland.

The hearing was told that his remarks at Teesdale School included the use of inappropriate sexual language, and calling Dr Who star John Barrowman an extremely offensive name.

He was dismissed from the establishment after pupils reported his language to the school’s co-principal.

A report from the hearing stated: “Although he could not recall using such language, Patel gave evidence that, at that time, he was prone to making inappropriate comments and that it was possible that these words were used by him.

“Taking all of the evidence into account, the panel is satisfied that it is more likely than not that Patel used the words when teaching a group of pupils and that these remarks were inappropriate because of their sexual content.”

He also inaccurately recorded on his CV that he was employed at the school for two years when, in fact, he had been there for just over a month.

The CV had referred to his time at the school as “long term maternity cover” from November 2010 to December 2012.

The report added: “The panel noted that there were various parts of the CV that were inflated, exaggerated or pumped–up.

“The panel is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that Patel's intention was to mislead potential employers as to the length of time that he worked at Teesdale School and his position within the school."

He joined the Pupil Referral Unit, at the Cheadle Centre, in September 2013, as a teacher of English, Performing Arts and literacy co-ordinator.

Between then and December 2013, Patel submitted several petty cash claims for musical and recording equipment and theatre tickets, which raised the suspicions of a member of the administrative staff.

He was suspended and the matter was handed over to the police, after which he was charged with fraud by abuse of position.

After pleading guilty at Newcastle Crown Court last November, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 80-hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay compensation of £581 and a victim surcharge of £60.

Patel was banned from teaching indefinitely, meaning he cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home, in England.