Drug smuggler teacher Edward Bollom banned

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-27347081

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A teacher who was jailed for smuggling "highly damaging" class A and B drugs has been banned from the classroom.

Edward Bollom, 32, was jailed for 18 months after he was found with LSD, cannabis and mescaline as he travelled to Guernsey on holiday.

He begged a disciplinary panel not to ban him, claiming Guernsey's drug laws are too harsh.

Swansea-born Bollom was given a prohibition order and cannot reapply to teach for two years.

He had taught art at La Mare de Carteret School in Guernsey, but was not working there when he was caught with the drugs.

A General Teaching Council for Wales hearing in Cardiff was told a Guernsey Border Agency sniffer dog found the drugs in Bollom's car as he travelled on a ferry from Poole.

'Stupid actions'

He admitted importing class A and B drugs, which police said would have an estimated street value of £2,500, at Guernsey Royal Court in April 2013.

Bollom told the hearing he started experimenting with drugs when working at music festivals in 2012.

He said he regretted his actions, but felt his arrest "saved his life" and insisted he should still be allowed to teach.

"Through my own stupid actions I completely tore my house of cards down and I would do anything in the world to build that back up again," he said.

"I'm not here to argue the facts - I fully admit committing the offences.

"I hope I can continue to inspire creativity in children and I am a dedicated honest man who made some wrong choices.

"The small amounts of the substances found in my car wouldn't have had me convicted in England and Wales.

"Guernsey has a very strict zero tolerance policy towards these things."

Panel chairwoman Tracy Jones said Bollom's case was a sad one but his behaviour was "fundamentally unacceptable".