A lecturer who lost his job over a relationship with a student - then went to teach at Purbeck School without telling them of the affair - has been banned from teaching for life.

Andrew Gilbert, 33, who worked at Weymouth college for seven years up until his dismissal in September 2013, was banned after a panel found he had a relationship with an 18-year-old student which included sexual activity.

A professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership found Mr Gilbert guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

This relates to the affair and for failing to tell his employers at the Purbeck School, his next job after the college, that he had been sacked because of the relationship.

Mr Gilbert, described as a 'highly regarded' and a 'dedicated' teacher, admitted having an 'inappropriate relationship' with the student in the summer of 2013 which included sexual activity, but he said full sex did not take place.

The panel found Mr Gilbert 'failed to maintain professional boundaries' by entering into the relationship and meeting up regularly with the student after college, exchanging emails and telephone calls with her, kissing, and taking part in sexual activity. The panel found Mr Gilbert's conduct was in part, sexually motivated, something he denies.

Mr Gilbert applied for a job at Wareham's Purbeck School in October 2013 but failed to notify the school of the reason for his dismissal from the college.

The panel found he failed to declare this in an application form, in an interview, and to his line manager when asked, and that he acted dishonestly when he did this.

Mr Gilbert said he didn't disclose the relationship as he thought a settlement agreement he had with the college prevented him from doing so.

The panel heard that Mr Gilbert 'seriously regrets' his actions and that health issues affected his judgement.

But a report from the panel said: "The panel is satisfied that the conduct of Mr Gilbert in developing an inappropriate relationship with a pupil that became sexual, even if the pupil was aged 18 at the time, fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. Such conduct was unprofessional, breached his position of trust and did have a negative impact on (the student's) well-being."

It adds:"The findings of misconduct are serious and the conduct displayed had a negative impact on Mr Gilbert’s status as a teacher. The fact that he had had a sexual relationship with a pupil and news of this passed on from the college to the school undoubtedly had a negative impact on him and damaged the public perception of the profession."

The panel has decided that Mr Gilbert is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and he cannot apply for the order to be lifted. He is, however, entitled to appeal to the High Court.

A statement from Weymouth College said: "The Corporation and Senior Leadership Team at Weymouth College fully accepts the findings of the National College for Teaching and Leadership professional conduct panel.

"Weymouth College continues to support and adhere to the agreed standards of professional conduct."

Chairman of the College's Corporation David Fallows added: "Weymouth College takes the safeguarding of its students seriously. All college policies and procedures are actively reviewed and developed on a regular basis.

"Safeguarding at the College has over the years been subject to independent assessment – including, most recently, during our Ofsted review in 2015 - and is rated good.

"Weymouth College continues to be strongly committed to providing the structures, guidance and support systems needed to create an environment where all our students can work hard and achieve success in their studies."