A FORMER teacher jailed for a series of “serious” sex offences with a pupil has been handed a lifetime ban from the profession. 

Christopher Sillitoe, 74, was jailed for four years and two months in September 2021, with a professional conduct panel banning him from teaching following a hearing last month. 

The former teacher sexually abused a girl while working at a school in Basildon.

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The court heard he and the girl engaged in various sexual activities while she was a pupil at the school.

He was charged with eight counts of indecent assault following more than 44 incidents which date back to the 1970s.

Sillitoe was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The report, which has now been published, confirmed Sillitoe is now “prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children’s home in England.”

The report added: “Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Christopher Sillitoe shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”

The panel had to consider a number of factors and found Sillitoe had breach several standards including “upholding public trust in the profession and maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour”.

It was also noted that some of his actions were related to teaching.

The report stated: “Mr Sillitoe’s actions were relevant to teaching, working with children and/or working in an education setting, in that the conduct that led to his conviction was in relation to Person A, who was a pupil of Mr Sillitoe’s.

“Further, some of Mr Sillitoe’s conduct took place in the school environment, and on occasion in the presence of another pupil.”

At the time of sentencing, Judge Samantha Cohen said Sillitoe showed little understanding of what he did.

The panel also added that there was no evidence that his actions were not deliberate.

The report said: “In this case, the factors which mean that a review period should not be allowed are the serious nature of the offending and the lack of either insight or remorse.”