A private school teacher has been banned from the classroom after he was caught and convicted for getting behind the wheel while three-times over the drink-drive limit. 

Stuart Coughlan had been a teacher at Akeley Wood Junior School in Buckingham from September 2015 until he was dismissed from his role on October 14, 2019. 

The 35-year-old had been arrested days before Christmas, on December 23, 2018, by Thames Valley Police following a drink-driving incident that had happened the same day. 

He was convicted of driving over the drink-drive limit on September 19, 2019, and he also received a conditional discharge in relation to his behaviour when he was in hospital following the drink-driving incident on December 23, 2018. 

He was subsequently dismissed from his position at the school. 

Mr Coughlan admitted the crimes to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel, which investigates teacher misconduct, saying it happened following an argument during a night out with friends and he was "not thinking clearly" at the time. 

The panel said his actions were not relevant to teaching or working with children, and said the fact he was not given a jail term shows it was at the "less serious end of the possible spectrum". 

They also accepted that this was "out of character" for the teacher and that he had shown remorse for his actions. 

But they said his behaviour "fell significantly short of the standards expected" of teachers. 

They said in their report: "Given the influence teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community, Mr Coughlan's conduct did not set a good example.

"Accordingly, the panel was satisfied that Mr Coughlan was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

"In the light of the panel’s findings against Mr Coughlan, which involved a conviction for a drink driving offence and aggressive and unpredictable behaviour, the panel considered that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mr Coughlan were not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession."

Mr Coughlan was banned from teaching in any school, sixth form college or children's home indefinitely, although he can apply for the prohibition order to be "set aside" after two years. 

If he does apply, a panel will meet to decide whether or not the order should continue.