A TEACHER who led a double life as a porn star and stripper, has been told he is free to go back to the classroom.

Benedict Garrett, 31, told the Guardian he expected to be struck off the teaching register following a two-day disciplinary hearing of the General Teaching Council which ended today (August 31).

The Council heard that Mr Garrett had stripped in clubs and undertaken work of a pornographic nature while employed as a sex education teacher at Beal High School in Woodford Bridge Road.

But while they found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, they did not strike him off the register.

Mr Garrett worked at the school from January 2008 until July 2010. His double life came to light after students discovered a website advertising his services as a stripper and ‘naked butler’ for private dinner parties.

Chairman of the disciplinary committee, Derek Johns, told Mr Garrett: "You have stated that you will continue to advocate the morality and acceptability of your involvement in the adult industry and argue that it should not be inappropriate for a teacher to work as a stripper or in pornographic films.

"However, the committee is content that you recognise the widely held public view that such work is not acceptable conduct for a teacher.

"Therefore, in relation to risk of repetition, the committee considers it is unlikely that you will seek to return to the teaching profession whilst working as a stripper or in pornographic films."

Mr Garrett still works in the adult entertainment industry, but would have to give up any such activity should he choose to return to the teaching profession.

He said: “I don’t agree that I should have received any sanctions. However, I think the decision is fair under the circumstances.

“I recognise that if they were to let me off Scott-free, they would have opened a can of worms.”

He said he had no plans to return to teaching and will continue living in Manchester, where he has moved to, for the foreseeable future.

“I loved the actual teaching and working with young people,” he added. “Beale High School is a great school.

“I participated in the life of the school. I was in many of the shows and a school choir and I had a sexual health day there and introduced an organisation to combat homophobia.”

He said he felt the hearing had opened up the debate on whether teachers should be involved with porn and similar activities outside of school.

Mr Garrett also faced an allegation that he had left inappropriate voicemail messages on the mobile phone of the school's associate head teacher, but the panel found that to be unproven.

The reprimand will remain on the GTC's register for two years.

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