A RELIGIOUS education teacher who harassed one of his pupils to the extent she felt physically sick has been banned from teaching.

Joshua Long, who taught at The Marlborough Church of England School in Woodstock, was told he could not work in schools for at least four years after his case was heard by a disciplinary panel.

It comes after he was convicted at Oxford Magistrates' Court on December 9 of harassing the girl.

The professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership heard Long, 29, had sent the girl whom he taught 16 text messages between July 9 and July 12 last year in Witney.

He also phoned her 10 times and tried to contact her in person during the same dates.

There was no evidence his conduct was sexually motivated, the panel heard, but the girl cried and felt "very upset and scared" to the point where she "nearly threw up".

The panel concluded Long, who did not attend the hearing, seriously affected her wellbeing and there would be a continuing risk to pupils if he continued to teach.

He was said to have referred to the girl as a "friend", which the panel said showed he did not understand proper boundaries between teachers and pupils.

A report of the hearing said Long, who had taught at The Marlborough School since 2013, had abused his position of trust and violated the girl's rights.

It said the panel also felt Long's behaviour could affect public confidence in the teaching profession.

In its recommendation to the Education Secretary, the panel wrote: "The fact that Mr Long has still not shown any insight or remorse, and that the panel believes he still presents a continuing risk because of this, were significant factors in forming our opinion."

He was banned from teaching until at least July 14, 2020 by the Education Secretary.

His conviction at Oxford Magistrates' Court in December after he denied the offence led to him receiving a 24-month conditional discharge and being ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge, £500 costs and a £520 criminal courts charge.

The Marlborough School did not respond to requests for comment.