A former Ashford teacher who tried to touch and kiss a 16-year-old pupil has been banned from teaching for 10 years.

Paul Houghton was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by the General Teaching Council England's professional conduct committee.

Mr Houghton, who did not attend the hearing, worked at North School in Essella Road, between March 2004 and December 2008.

The committee heard he tried to pressure a girl, referred to as Pupil A, into a relationship in 2008 by sending her text messages and making comments of a sexual nature to her on Facebook.

North deputy head teacher Adrienne Smith was said to be "wholly shocked" after reading the Facebook messages he sent.

He also acted inappropriately towards another girl, known as Pupil B, who he gave a birthday present and showed confidential exam results.

He gave her his mobile number, contacted her on Facebook, met her alone in the school on several occasions and discussed sexual relationships, smoking and drinking with her.

The committee agreed that Mr Houghton was trying to establish a sexual relationship with Pupil A, given the explicit content and tone of messages sent to her.

Their decision notice stated: "Pupil A was emotionally vulnerable, and has received treatment at an adolescent mental health clinic. The committee is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mr Houghton's conduct was sexually motivated.

"The committee is concerned that Mr Houghton abused his position of trust, and ignored basic child protection rules, despite having had appropriate training. He put pupils' welfare at risk.

"Pupil A and Pupil B were very vulnerable teenagers, and there was a risk of serious harm."

It was added: "He exploited pupils whom he knew to be vulnerable. Mr Houghton's behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a registered teacher."

Mr Houghton, who was banned from teaching until 2021, has the right to appeal the decision to the High Court within 28 days.