TEACHER STRUCK OFF FOR HAVING SEX WITH UNDERAGE BOY HE MET ON DATING APP
A teacher who had sex with a 13-year-old boy he met on a dating app has been struck off.Andrew Polwarth, 40, met the youngster, who claimed he was 18, on the site Hornet.
The pair had an illicit sexual encounter at Polwarth's former home in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, days after Christmas in 2018.
He later told the boy to delete WhatsApp messages between them.
The true age of the child was revealed after Polwarth had returned to South Korea where he taught at the time.
He was later arrested at Glasgow Airport and had his passport removed after being deemed a flight risk.
He went on trial accused of having sex with and sending indecent messages to the child but was acquitted at Paisley Sheriff Court on a not proven verdict.
Polwarth had his case brought before a panel of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
The watchdog ruled he had to be banned from the classroom for his actions.
Polwarth told the GTCS he had lost his career, house and his car and had worked in a supermarket for the last two years.
He said he had been using the Hornet app for a 'casual relationship' while he returned from Scotland for the Christmas holidays.
Polwarth claimed he had 'not seen anything that caused him to doubt' the age of the child and described the boy as being 'tall and physically mature'.
When police told him the real age of the boy it was 'soul crushing' for him and that he then fully cooperated with investigations.
The boy, now aged 20, told the GTCS that he was 'pretty sure' he told Polwarth his true age during a car journey.
Polwarth's lawyer said the boy had given 'inconsistent' versions of events and that Polwarth was a 'credible witness' aiming 'to clear his name'.
The GTCS ruled they had no option but to strike him off, citing serious misconduct and the impact on the child.
Polwarth will not be able to reapply to teach for 18 months but could return to the classroom if he undertook further training on safeguarding and child protection.
