A FORMER Worcester teacher and scout leader has been officially banned from the profession after he arranged to meet a decoy child for sex.

Robert Howe, a former teacher at Tudor Grange Academy in Worcester, has been banned indefinitely from teaching after he exchanged messages with an undercover police officer pretending to be a 15-year-old boy.

The 36-year-old was jailed for two years in June 2021 and was placed on a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

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The Teacher Misconduct Panel decided on the outcome of Howe's future in teaching at the end of May. 

Due to the serious nature of his crimes, he will never be allowed to teach again.

Decision maker Marc Cavey said: "Mr Robert Howe is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or 13 children’s home in England.

"Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Robert Howe shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."

In June 2021, the court heard how Howe was 'lonely' living in his city flat after his marriage collapsed.

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Howe believed he was chatting to a ‘cute’ 15-year-old boy, Worcester Crown Court heard. 

It was revealed he developed 'cold feet' and did not, in the end, meet with the 'child' and had blocked him from his phone ahead of their planned encounter at his Worcester flat.

Howe taught geography at Tudor Grange Academy in Bilford Road between November 2017 and May 2021.

After hearing the news of Howe's arrest, the school's headteacher, Mr Butler, issued a letter which said: "As you may be aware, Mr Howe has not been teaching at the school since 22nd April, and I would like to take this opportunity to explain why.

"I am very sorry to have to tell you that we were informed by the police that he had been arrested and charged for online offences committed in his personal life outside of school.

"As you would expect and in line with our safeguarding procedures, he was immediately suspended pending an investigation, and consequently, Mr Howe no longer works at the school."