A PROBATIONARY teacher who volunteered as a youth worker has been banned from the classroom for at least two years after admitting he kissed a child.

Christopher McTiernan, 26, was a provisionally registered primary school teacher and also a volunteer with a youth project in Greenock.

The incident involved a boy he was mentoring on the project.

Mr McTiernan was still completing his induction period prior to becoming a fully registered teacher.

The General Teaching Council Scotland has now removed him from the Register of Teachers after he admitted allegations of inappropriate behaviour during two train journeys on 24 August 2008.

Mr McTiernan, who was not a fully qualified teacher, admitted he 'failed to maintain an appropriate professional boundary with Child A' on the 9.30am Cartsdyke to Glasgow Central service and also on the 3.20pm Glasgow Central to Gourock train.

The General Teaching Council findings stated that he cuddled the boy, rubbed him on the stomach and 'kissed him on the head and lips' during the journeys.

The GTC has published a 'removal with consent order' which says Mr McTiernan waived his right to a full hearing and fully admitted the allegations relating to his fitness to teach.

He also signed the order, which stated: "I freely and willingly consent to being removed from the register in view of my admission of the allegations and understand that I will be prohibited from applying for restoration to the register for a period of two years.

"I have had the opportunity to seek advice from a professional association and from an independent legal representative on the content of this order.

"I understand that the content of this order will be made available to the public." A spokeswoman for the General Teaching Council said today: "There was no criminal conviction.

"Mr McTiernan's employers made a complaint/referral to us regarding his conduct, which led to this hearing taking place." The removal from the register is subject to a 28-day appeal period to the Court of Session.