A BOLTON music teacher who was jailed for dealing in drugs has been banned from teaching for 10 years.

Former Canon Slade School teacher Stephen Bell was sentenced to three years in prison at Bolton Crown Court in October 2004. He has since been released.

But the General Teaching Council for England has now banned him from teaching for 10 years in maintained schools and non-maintained special schools, for unprofessional conduct.

Bell, who trained at an evangelical bible college in Wales, was found in possession of cocaine when police raided his house in June, 2004.

Police also found snap bags, that are used to store cocaine, along with measuring scales when they searched the terraced house. Bell, formerly of Lobelia Avenue, Farnworth, pleaded guilty to four charges of dealing in the Class A drug. The court was told there was no evidence he had been supplying cocaine to Canon Slade pupils.

The GTC's Professional Conduct Committee found Bell guilty of unacceptable professional conduct while a teacher at Canon Slade Church of England School over the period September 2003 up to 21 June 2004.

The committee found he had also made inappropriate comments and behaved in an inappropriate manner towards several sixth form students at the school.

The hearing heard how Bell discussed his private life with students and was unacceptably familiar. On one occasion he had gone to the pub with some students, the majority of whom were underage, before an open evening at the school.

The committee also heard how in May 2004, Bell, while at the Upper Sixth Prom, handed a pupil a small packet containing a white powder.

When reaching its decision the committee heard testimonials from members of Bell's family, former pupils and various professional people, together with Bell's own account of the circumstances surrounding the allegations and the events following his arrest and conviction.

And while it did concede there was "evidence of his willingness to reform his behaviour", the committee concluded that the convictions for drug-related offences "suggested deep-seated attitudinal problems."

A spokesman for the GTC said: "Bell will be able to re-apply to be put back on the Register after ten years but even if he makes this application, his case would have to be heard by a panel, which would then decide whether or not he was fit to be put back on the Register.

"In theory he could still work at an independent school, if they were not affiliated to the General Teaching Council, but it would be highly unlikely and we will be referring this case to the Secretary of State who will have the final say on the matter."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We are not able to comment on this situation as Stephen Bell has not been in our employ since July 2004 when he resigned."

The headteacher of Canon Slade School was unavailable for comment.