EX-UNIVERSITY LECTURER SENT ROMANTIC TEXTS TO UNDERAGE GIRLS RESULTING IN REMOVAL FROM TEACHING REGISTER
UPDATE APRIL 2016: Dr Kobine resigned after being suspended from his job and has now agreed to be struck off the teaching register by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) MARCH 2016: A former university lecturer who engaged in sending romantic text messages to a 12-year-old girl is set to be removed from the teaching register.Dr.
Jonathan Kobine, aged 48 and based in Broughty Ferry, agreed to no longer be part of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) after allegations surfaced that he sent inappropriate messages to a young girl and shared his phone number with a 13-year-old while at a bus stop in Dundee.
It is claimed that in 2003, he provided his contact details to a 13-year-old girl at a bus stop, and later in 2007, he sent a series of inappropriate, romantic messages to a 12-year-old girl.
The incidents, described as reckless, occurred during a period of personal marital difficulties for Kobine.
He told a local newspaper that he did not contest the allegations, citing personal and professional stress at the time.
He acknowledged his actions were reckless and expressed regret, stating that they were out of character.
Kobine believed these events were behind him and that he had moved on.
He also mentioned that he was unaware these incidents might impact his career as a teacher, as he was not questioned about them during his teacher training.
He began working at Dundee University in 2002 but resigned in 2015 following the allegations.
Police investigated but decided not to bring charges.
The GTCS conducted a probe that resulted in a consent order for his removal from the register, leading to his resignation from teaching.
John D Halliday, the rector of Dundee High School, confirmed that allegations related to Kobine’s conduct in 2003 and 2007, clarifying that neither girl was a pupil at the school and that the conduct was not under school investigation.
Kobine also indicated he had undergone counseling and experienced personal upheaval, including separating from his wife, during the time of these incidents.
The article notes he began teacher training in August 2014 with placements at local schools and started his probation at Dundee High School in August 2015.
