Black County teacher jailed for robbery

A respected PE teacher who used to work at a secondary school in the Black Country was today starting a four-year prison sentence for punching a man to the ground and then robbing him.

Simon Evans led a "double life" as a teacher by day but recreational drug user by night, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

The 27-year-old, who worked at George Salter Collegiate Academy in West Bromwich, was agitated in the dock and clutched a necklace of rosary beads.

Evans, formerly of Ferguson Drive, Tipton, prayed throughout the hearing, balanced the beads on his head and broke down.

Judge Elizabeth Fisher yesterday jailed him for four years for robbery and driving while disqualified. There was no separate penalty for driving with no insurance.

Evans, who lives in Coppice Gate, Burton Bridge, Bewdley, was subject to a three-year ban for drunk driving at the time of the robbery on August 15, 2009.

Last month, jurors took less than 30 minutes to convict him of robbing 24-year-old Andrew Todd in Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Evans denied all the charges but made a "warts and all" confession after the jury's verdict, Mr Andrew Jackson, defending, said.

"He has an addiction to a recreational drug," Mr Jackson said. "He had a double life and this confession was the end of that double life."