A TEACHER who lied about being a wounded SAS veteran and had inappropriate relationships with students has been banned.

Dr William Sharkey told colleagues and students at the prestigious Bryanston School in Blandford that he had been shot twice in combat while with the SAS – a lie he used to explain an old jogging injury.

According to a disciplinary hearing report, the false story was “well-known around the school” and that it was something Dr Sharkey told students about in the boarding house he was responsible for.

In fact, the 38-year-old suffered from an old running injury and used the SAS story to explain his unusual running style.

A panel found that the conduct of Dr Sharkey, who worked at Bryanston School between 2015 and 2016, “fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession”.

The religious studies teacher was ultimately sacked after a female pupil was twice seen exiting his private quarters at an all-male boarding house.

This was despite being warned by the housemaster that this was neither appropriate nor permitted conduct for a man in Dr Sharkey’s position.

Bournemouth Echo:

Then, in 2020, he successfully applied for a job at Lymm High School in Warrington in which he failed to disclose that he had worked at and been dismissed from Bryanston.

On various dates the following year, he again engaged in inappropriate communications with a vulnerable pupil. The teacher told her over email details about his private life in an “over-familiar” manner.

Prior to this, Dr Sharkey had no known disciplinary breaches. A reference obtained by Bryanston School stated that Dr Sharkey “would make an outstanding teacher” and they believed the school would be “glad to have him”.

Dr Sharkey admitted that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

However, the report stated that the panel was “very concerned that Dr Sharkey had not exhibited any remorse or insight”.

He was also stated to have asked for the proceedings to be quickly concluded as he intends on moving overseas.

Acting on behalf of the secretary of state, decision maker Sarah Buxcey said: “In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.”

Dr Sharkey has been banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot apply for the prohibition order to be set aside until June 2, 2028.