Бывший заключенный Таиланда признан годным к работе учителем в Шотландии

A man who was jailed in Thailand for possession of methamphetamine has been declared fit to be a teacher after turning his life around. Niall Murray has recently completed a Postgraduate Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Glasgow as well as a final placement, and is looking to embark on a professional teaching career. In order to do so, however, the General Teaching Council for Scotland had to evaluate whether he was fit to teach having previously spent time in prison. On 20 April 2021, the Bangkok South Criminal Court convicted Mr Murray of use and possession of meth, and on March 11 the following year he was sentenced. Read More: - GTC Scotland impose maximum ban on Forfar primary teacher - Glasgow teacher struck off after having baby with ex-pupil - Teacher struck off after buying alcohol for pupils in Paisley pub The Thai Court of Appeal sentenced him to two months imprisonment for use of a class one controlled narcotic and two years for possession, with the sentences reduced by half as he pleaded guilty. In a hearing before the GTCS, Mr Murray accepted the factual circumstances of the conviction and took full responsibility while arguing he was not currently impaired or unfit to teach. The panel noted that the offence had been committed six years previously, before Mr Murray began his path to becoming a teacher. He was clear that he had made positive changes in his life, and it was noted that he had been fully transparent with the University of Glasgow about his conviction. Mr Murray full co-operated with GTSC in its investigation and was supported by submissions from Dr Jennifer Farrar at the university. The panel further noted that he now had a stable personal life and had embarked on the process of becoming a teacher in full knowledge that his criminal conviction would be examined before he could do so. That he would lose all of his hard work were he to reoffend was viewed as a strong protective factor. It was acknowledged that there is a public interest in the matter given the seriousness of the conviction, but the panel concluded a well-informed member of the public with access to the facts would reach the same conclusions as it had on the matter. After careful consideration, the Panel concluded that the Applicant’s fitness to teach is not currently impaired and in accordance with Rule 2.3.2 (d) it directed that no further action be taken.