A DEPUTY headteacher has been found guilty of intimidating a staff member and allowing a personal relationship with another colleague to disrupt the running of the school.

Stephen Peers was found guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct” by the General Teaching Council and ordered to do take extra training.

The incidents related to the time when Mr Peers was employed at Barrowford St Thomas CofE Primary.

The GTC’s Professional Conduct Committee found that he “intimidated and made inappropriate or unprofessional comments” to Michelle White, who had complained to the head teacher about Mr Peers' conduct in visiting her home and trying to speak to her in the classroom soon after.

The committee’s findings said: “Whilst it may not have been Mr Peers’ intention to intimidate her, his conduct had that effect.”

The hearing also found that he allowed a personal relationship with somebody identified as “Colleague 1” to disrupt the running of the school.

That followed an incident where he went to the pub at lunchtime with that colleague and failed to notify the teacher left in charge where he was going or how long he would be.

Tracy Heys, headteacher at the school, said: “Mr Peers was employed at the school as deputy head teacher from September 2007 to June 2009.

“He was suspended in May 2009 following allegations of unprofessional conduct. Mr Peers left the school in June 2009.

"The matter was referred to the General Teaching Council and the case concluded on June 27.”