Britain's Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is under pressure today after it emerged she gave written permission to a convicted child sex offender to teach in schools.
In a letter obtained by the Sunday Telegraph, Ms Kelly's department told 59-year-old William Gibson his actions had been "unwise", but said she had decided "not to bar or restrict your employment".
Ms Kelly is already facing calls for her resignation over her department's failure to keep paedophiles out of the classroom.
But his details were never entered on the confidential List 99 maintained by the Department for Education of teachers barred from working in schools.
The letter, sent in January 2005 and signed by an official in the department, stated that Ms Kelly was aware of the maths teacher's convictions.
"In reaching her decision the Secretary of State has taken into account that in 1980 you resigned from your teaching post following allegations that you were conducting a relationship with a 15-year-old female pupil, for which you were subsequently convicted," it added.
"The Secretary of State has given weight to the fact that you accept that your actions were unwise and your behaviour was unacceptable; you understand the related consequences of your actions; and, you have undertaken teaching work in recent years to good effect."
The letter concluded with a warning to Gibson.
"Your behaviour has caused her grave concern," it said. "Consequently you are warned that any further misconduct on your part, which calls for action by here, is likely to have more serious consequences for your future career as a worker with children."
Ms Kelly last week launched an "exhaustive review" of the vetting system for teachers cautioned and convicted of sex offences involving children, after it emerged that PE instructor Paul Reeve had been cleared to work in a Norfolk school despite receiving a police caution for viewing child pornography.
A number of cases came to light yesterday of teachers on List 99 who were cleared to work in specific schools where they were not thought to pose a risk.
Science teacher Keith Hudson, from Sussex, was given permission by former Education Secretary Estelle Morris to work in all-girl schools despite a conviction for possessing indecent images of boys because medical evidence suggested he had no interest in female children.
PA