A PE teacher from the Borders has been struck off after embezzling £1,400 from a school he worked at.

Andrew Stavert admitted taking the sum from Dalkeith High in Midlothian between January and March, 2018.

The 27-year-old, who was in his probationary year, also took part in a number of activities with the University of Edinburgh futsal team while he was on sick leave in the months that followed.

During that time he attended a tournament in Belgium to compete in the sport, which is similar to five-a-side football.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: How Borders cases compare with rest of Scotland in recent days

Stavert’s case was considered by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) on November 23 last year.

And in its report, published last Tuesday (April 6), the watchdog blasted his “lack of integrity”.

The written decision states: “The panel was satisfied that the teacher’s conduct at the time amounted to misconduct.

“The panel then considered whether the teacher is currently impaired. It considered that the allegations, which have been admitted, are serious. 

READ MORE: Drugs offence: Borders teenager found with £12k worth of cannabis pleads guilty

“The misconduct occurred during the teacher’s probationary year. 

“He not only criminally embezzled funds, he dishonestly claimed sick leave during which he took part in team sporting activities. 

“His actions were premeditated and demonstrated a lack of integrity. 

“The misconduct fell significantly short of the standards expected and was fundamentally incompatible with being a registered teacher, so as to make him unfit to teach. 

READ MORE: Borders man, 22, was abusive towards police officers and struggled with them

“Further, the public interest in maintaining the public’s confidence in the integrity of the teaching profession and GTCS as a professional regulator also required a finding that the teacher is unfit to teach.”

Stavert, who said he does not want to pursue his career in teaching, also asked to have his name withheld from the public.

However this request was rejected by the GTCS which said “there was a high public interest in the decision being published”.

READ MORE: Dangerous driving: Man banned from road after admitting offence in Borders

It added: “Publication would have a deterrent effect and would protect the public interest in the future by reinforcing to the teaching profession the standards expected of a teacher and highlighting to the profession the action taken by GTCS when the conduct of a teacher falls significantly far below the standards expected.”

The panel decided to remove his name from the register and he must wait at least two years if he wishes to apply to re-enter the profession.

In 2019, Stavert was convicted in Edinburgh Sheriff Court having been charged with embezzling £1,400 from Dalkeith High School between January 15 and March 16, 2018.