A FORMER Nantyglo Comprehensive School teacher was struck off yesterday after a teaching council conduct committee found he failed to tell the school he was arrested for assault by battery while employed there.

Former policeman Spencer Lillistone, who also worked for a fewmonths at Newport’s Hartridge High School, appeared before a professional conduct committee of the General Teaching Council for Wales.

Mr Lillistone, of Cwmbran, faced several allegations concerning his time as a craft and design technology teacher at Nantyglo Comprehensive School between September 2008 and April 2010.

The committee, which met at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, heard Mr Lillistone was convicted of drink driving in 2006 and of actual bodily harm in 2007 after headbutting a former neighbour in Caerleon.

Mr Lillistone was accused of failing to disclose these convictions to Nantyglo Comprehensive School before taking up the job, but the committee found this was not proved.

Chairman Peter Williams said Mr Lillistone had told an agency, which organised the initial job of supply work at the school, about these convictions and made himself available for further checks.

Mr Lillistone was also accused of failing to tell the school about an offence of assault by battery during his employment – he denied this.

But the committee found this was proved after Mr Lillistone failed to mention at a meeting with the school’s head teacher in January 2010 that he was arrested for this the month before.

They did not accept his argument he did not tell them because he had been instructed not to contact the school.

Mr Lillistone was convicted of the assault following a trial.

The committee also found allegations Mr Lillistone harassed his ex-wife and expartners to be proved.

Joanne Morgan, who Mr Lillistone denied having a relationship with, said he had thrown stones at her house while ex-girlfriend Hayley England said she felt harassed through texts and calls.

Two harassment notices were served on Mr Lillistone after requests were made by Ms Morgan and Ms English.

Mr Williams said Mr Lillistone’s overall conduct was incompatible with being a registered teacher and made a prohibition order removing him from the teaching register indefinitely.

David Browne, representing Mr Lillistone said things “spiralled out of control” and he is now seeing a therapist.