A FORMER principal teacher has been struck off the register after embezzling more than £15,000 from an amateur dramatics groups.

Andrew Montgomery was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court in January last year and given a Community Payback Order.

Now Mr Montgomery has admitted he is unfit to teach and a tribunal has taken him off the teaching register.

He chose not to appear at a General Teaching Council (GTC) hearing and waived his right to a full hearing.

The former head of Modern Languages at Paisley Grammar stole £15,568 from the Lyric Club between September 2011 and September 2014.

Mr Montgomery pocketed the cash from the Lyric Club, formerly known as the Glasgow College of Music Opera Society, by falsifying paperwork.

He repaid the money he had stolen and left his job.

The Community Payback Order required Mr Montgomery to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work within eight months.

He will now be disqualified to teach for two years after which he will be able to apply for re-registration.