A teacher who harassed a teenage girls has been reprimanded for his behaviour.

Saghir Ahmed, 41, spent ten years as a science teacher at Carshalton Boys' Sports College between 1998 and 2008.

But on Friday (May 11) he faced a professional conduct panel in Coventry after admitting a series of serious offences.

The Teaching Agency panel heard how in 2008, Ahmed was found guilty of harassment at Kingston Magistrates Court after he made inappropriate comments towards a 17-year-old girl.

Ahmed was given a three-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order.

The teaching panel concluded: "This was misconduct of a serious nature, falling significantly short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher.

"Although this occurred outside of school, it was relevant to teaching, having regard to the age of the girl concerned.

"The conduct was likely to adversely impact on public confidence in the teaching profession."

Ahmed admitted his behaviour was unacceptable on various occasions as a teacher between 2002 and 2008, including inappropriately restraining a pupil.

Ahmed failed to report the incident as he knew he was already subject to a final warning, which the panel said indicated "an element of concealment on Mr Ahmed's part".

Staff made complaints about the 41-year-old after he made inappropriate comments to female teachers both in front of students and in private to a newly-qualified female teacher, but Ahmed assured the school it would not happen again.

A final written warning was issued to the 41-year-old after he falsified a pupils exam grade in 2002.

Simon Barber, Headteacher at Carshalton Boys, said: "On 20th March 2008, I was made aware by the Metropolitan Police that science teacher Saghir Ahmed was under investigation for the alleged harassment of two female students who attended a girls secondary school in a neighbouring borough.

"As a result, Mr Ahmed was immediately suspended from Carshalton Boys. Mr Ahmed resigned from Carshalton Boys on May 2nd 2008, before the disciplinary case could be heard by our Governing Body."

Mr Ahmed's future as a teacher will be decided by the secretary of state and announced next week.