London:
A teacher of Indian origin in Britain played truant by forging sick notes so as to excuse himself from teaching in classrooms.
Kulvinder Billan, 31, forged half-a-dozen sick notes and a letter from a leading doctor so that he could get out of teaching at Weston Favell School, Northampton, the
Daily Mail newspaper reported.
Billan, as the head of business studies, submitted forged doctor's notes over two academic years and then forged a letter from a professor as backup, a court heard.
He was paid £33,000 (over $51,000) a year, but could not face returning to teaching after being off work with stress.
Michael Waterfield, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court Wednesday, said: "He had a substantial amount of time off sick during his first academic year of 2009-10 which appears to be genuine and it was apparent he found it difficult for him to go back to school in the academic year 2010-11."
The court heard Billan went off sick again in November 2010 and then sent in further sick notes, claiming to be suffering from polyps.
After a senior staff noticed the doctor's signatures not being constant it was informed to police.
Billan, of Groby, Leicester county, pleaded guilty to fraud and forgery. He was sentenced to 51 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 200 hours' community service and a three-month 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
Billan now faces a disciplinary hearing with the General Teaching Council for England.