A church school teacher who ran a pornography business specialising in hardcore sex videos has been banned from the profession for six months.
Andrew Miles used his weekends and evenings to build up a “porn empire” on the internet at the same time as teaching IT at Unity College in Northampton.
He made videos of women performing a variety of “obscene acts” and offered to supply them to other people if they wanted to make their own pornographic films.
Mr Miles was exposed by a Sunday tabloid newspaper three years ago. He admitted running the website to an undercover reporter and said he wanted to make the films even more explicit.
The teacher was suspended from his post when the story was first published, before resigning three months later in the summer of 2007.
Many of the women featured on the website were from Eastern Europe and one was heavily pregnant.
Mr Miles said he made films at the weekend and during the summer holidays and wanted to expand the number of women he worked with so he could make more money.
“I also know a male model who is actually a teacher as well; perhaps it’s a sign of the poor pay,” he told the newspaper.
Mr Miles had worked at Unity College for two years, first as a supply teacher from October 2005 and then as a full-time member of staff a year later.
He admitted running the website between January and May 2007 to the then principal Sharron Goode during a formal interview.
Mr Miles also admitted it to the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) panel, which imposed the suspension during a hearing this week, but said he no longer operates it. It found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and said it was “concerned” about his conduct.
“Mr Miles agrees that his job description and role included supporting the school in fostering links with the Church and promoting Christian values,” panel chairwoman Elizabeth Purnell said.
“By virtue of the fact that he was involved in the running of a sexually explicit website, and having divulged that he was a teacher working at the college, he has brought the reputation of the teaching profession into disrepute.
“Mr Miles has been actively involved in the running and promotion of a pornography business readily accessible by the public. Such conduct is incompatible with the behaviour which is expected of registered teachers.
“He has shown some insight into the effect of his actions. He has acknowledged that his behaviour has had an effect on the reputation of the profession and the college, for which he has shown remorse.
“We are aware of our duty to uphold the reputation of the profession and to maintain public confidence in the standards of the profession, and Mr Miles’ actions have brought its standing into disrepute.”
