The chief executive of Scottish Women's Aid has slammed the General Teaching Council for Scotland after it allowed a Lanarkshire teacher who admitted abusing three women back in the classroom.
Bosses at the country's leading domestic abuse organisation deemed the decision not to strike off Charles Tighe as "beyond understanding."
They also called for the GTCS - who instead imposed conditions on Tighe's registration for the next two years - to reconsider their decision, asking if the primary school teacher could be "trusted".
Dr Marsha Scott told Lanarkshire Live : “How a man who has admitted to abusing three women – and a child, although not clear that he was charged for terrifying the child in their mother’s arms— is deemed fit to carry out the trusted role of primary school teacher is beyond our understanding.
"Men who abuse women are harmful to children – both the children in the families they abuse and the children across society who perpetrators set a terrifying example for.
“Teachers can often be a first point of disclosure for children experiencing domestic abuse at home. Can this man be trusted to respond appropriately to that?
“In addition, we’d be fascinated to know why the GTCS believes there is little likelihood of a recurrence, given the high rates of recidivism in domestic abuse cases and the lack of evidence demonstrating unpaid work sentences decrease likelihood to reoffend.
“We urge the GTCS to reconsider and remind all readers that Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is here for you 24/7 on 0800 027 1234.”
Tighe, who taught at Beckford Primary in Hamilton, admitted assaulting three separate women during court proceedings.
He attacked one and pushed her against a wall, threw her to the floor and emptied a linen basket over her.
Tighe also struck her on the head as she held a child, threw her on a bed and emptied a bucket of cleaning materials and fluids over her.
He also struck her with a belt and repeatedly slapped and shook her.
Tighe targeted another female and repeatedly shook her and pinned her to the floor.
He also repeatedly sent text messages to another woman, which caused her "fear and alarm" a year after assaulting her and forcibly removing a child from her arms.
His campaign of violence stretched between 2007 and 2018, before he was prosecuted in 2019 and handed unpaid work, as well as being put under supervision for 18 months at Lanark Sheriff Court.
Tighe was hauled before a panel of the GTCS, where he admitted his criminal convictions, but insisted he was fit to teach.
The tribunal heard he had been suspended since November 2017 and was sacked in June the following year and had not worked since.
The GTCS decided not to strike him off and imposed conditions on his registration for the next two years.
The controversial decision to allow Tighe free to teach again caused a stir on social media with people unable to understand the ruling.
One mum posted: "I would not allow my daughter to be taught by, and therefore in the care of, this violent man.
"Cannot comprehend why he is allowed to be in a position of trust. What is the point of pvg checks if the GTC set a precedent to allow someone with such a violent history into a teaching position.
"What message does this give to society?"
Another posted: "How the hell is he fit to teach? Hopefully no school will employ him."
A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “We note the GTCS decision.”
When approached for comment, the EIS - Scotland's leading teachers' union - said they would not speak on individual cases.
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