A FORMER headteacher of an Andover school has spoken for the first time after he was found guilty of 'unacceptable professional conduct'.

Tom Donohoe, who was the headteacher of Anton Junior School, avoided a ban following a professional conduct panel hearing conducted by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

The panel, which investigated a series of allegations against Mr Donohoe, found that he bought a staff member gifts including flowers and a handbag, and asked another to wear fur coats for him while taking photos of her.

He also asked another staff member about their sex life and commented on employees' appearances.

READ MORE: Ex-headteacher guilty of 'unacceptable professional conduct' will not face ban

The ex-headteacher, who resigned from his position at the Anton Junior School in 2018 following complaints by former staff members, said the last five years were the most traumatic period in his life.

He told the Advertiser: “I resigned my post as headteacher of Anton Junior School when accusations that I strongly deny were made against me.

“It broke my heart to leave the school I loved and had worked so hard in, alongside a great staff team.

“Over the last five years I have had to wait whilst allegations and accusations, made in anonymity, chopped and changed and only recently did I get my chance to finally defend myself.

“It has been the most traumatic period in my life and left me devastated, anybody who knows me, knows that I literally gave my heart and soul to do all I could to make Anton the best possible school for the children who attended, the staff who worked there and for the wider community.

“The only small consolation that I have is that after five years of waiting and then a seven-day hearing, the TRA panel considered all the evidence and made the decision not to serve me with any sort of sanction and should I recover from this ordeal I am free to return to teaching.“

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Mr Donohoe was appointed as headteacher of the school in 2003 when it was rated by Ofsted as ‘requiring improvement’.

During his tenure, the school improved its ratings and in 2012, it was rated 'outstanding'.

Mr Donohoe also thanked the former colleagues who wrote character statements for him.

He said: “A number of former colleagues wrote character statements and appeared as witnesses on my behalf.

“I am grateful to them and to my lovely wife and amazing children who have been a source of great strength for me during this difficult time.”