Teacher Crashes Car After Drinking, Avoids Teaching Ban

John Lees, a science teacher, crashed his car into a tree after consuming half a bottle of wine before heading to work, resulting in a breathalyzer reading nearly double the legal limit. During a hearing, he attributed his actions to work-related stress and admitted to self-medicating with alcohol. Although he received a 17-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving, an independent Teaching Regulation Agency panel decided he would not face a ban from teaching. The panel noted his nearly 20 years of teaching experience, good character references from his new school, and his expressions of remorse. They concluded that his behavior was a one-off incident and that a prohibition order was unnecessary. Lees has since moved to another school, where he is considered an integral member of staff.