A Midlothian High School teacher has been struck off after waving fake genitalia at his colleagues while acting in a provocative manner.
Derek Turkington, a guidance teacher at Newbattle Community High School in Dalkeith, was found unfit to teach on Wednesday after his behaviour towards staff was deemed inappropriate.
Sometime between August 2017 and 2018, Turkington allegedly put a prosthetic penis down his trousers and then through his zip while making suggestive and provocative movements towards his colleagues. He also placed his finger through his trouser zip while attempting to mimic male genitalia.
Turkington, originally from Glasgow, was described as a "kind of Benny Hill character in his regards to sexual actions or language" by a former member of staff.
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Following a four day hearing into his conduct, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) panel decided to remove Turkington from the teaching register.
Arthur Stewart, the convenor of the panel, said: “Our decision as to Mr Turkington is that he is unfit to teach and the panel must direct that his name be removed from the teaching register.”
Turkington denied all allegations that he placed one of the prosthetics down his trousers and that he placed a finger through his zipper to mimic male genitalia.
He claimed he was carrying a box of fake penises from a sex education class and unintentionally must have held one as he waved goodbye to a colleague.
Turkington was also questioned about two incidents supposed to cause distress to pupils.
The allegations against the Scots teacher stated:
"On at least one occasion (Turkington) placed a prosthetic penis down his trousers and through the zip and [made] suggestive and provocative movements towards other colleagues.
"[Turkington] placed his finger, or fingers, through the zip of his trousers in an attempt to mimic male genitalia.
"In or around January 2018, on at least one occasion scream at Pupil A [and] state in the presence of Pupil A 'Colleague A, can you please tell him that his dad clearly doesn’t care about him and that he needs to move on and get a grip' or words to that effect.
"In or around 2017, nailed a piece of wood over a school door resulting in distress to pupils’ present.”
Turkington appeared in front of the GTCS panel to defend himself in June but did not show up for the final decision on Tuesday.
When giving evidence he said: “The demonstrators were used for S4 classes to show how to put on a condom. They were kept in a box which at times overflowed and so you would have to carry a couple while putting a folder over the top of the box.
“This was to cause as little attention as possible and all I can think is that one of my colleagues was on the phone and I was waving to say I am off to teach. I would have maybe had the demonstrator in my hand but that is all I can think."
He added: "I agree that if that [allegation] was done towards a colleague that would be far too far and out with being the appropriate humour for the workplace.
“I would say my sense of humour is friendly, outgoing, I like a laugh and a joke, I wouldn’t say I was slapstick as such, a sense of humour helps in the workplace. I certainly wouldn’t want to upset anyone, I would be appalled if that were to happen.”
The GTCS did not find enough evidence to support claims he screamed at a pupil. However, he was struck off and prohibited from reapplying to get back on the teaching register for two years.
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