Teacher defrauded 'vulnerable' family friend to pay for rent and shopping trips

A teacher has been banned from the profession for using her power of attorney to steal money from a “vulnerable” pensioner.

The supply teacher, who was granted anonymity by the General Teaching Council (GTC), pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining access to an elderly family friend’s bank account to pay her own rent, go shopping, and buy petrol.

She was found to have activated power of attorney when it wasn’t necessary or appropriate by taking a bank card to the person’s bank account without consent between May 2021 and March 2023.

Purchases were made from Amazon, Klarna, Clearpay, various petrol stations, Tesco, M&S and ASDA.

A report by the GTC found that the family friend was vulnerable, elderly and housebound.

The teacher sentenced to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Following her sentencing, the GTC for Scotland opened an investigation and found her fitness to teach to be “impaired”.

The teacher, who is now retired, told the panel she was borrowing the funds as a “short-term measure”, but fully accepts the borrowing was in fact a fraud and expressed “considerable remorse” for her actions.

She said a number of factors resulted in her behaviour, including her requirement to shield during the Covid pandemic that impacted her ability to earn an income.

She added she was under financial pressure, being in rent arrears, various debts, and having health struggles.

She told the panel none of these circumstances impact her life now, and said the sums taken were repaid.

The GTC panel considered this but said an informed member of the public would be “concerned” over the conduct the teacher directed against a vulnerable person whilst in a position of trust.