Photo: Pixaby

A former Vernon-area elementary school teacher who was found guilty of sex crimes against children will never teach again.

Anoop Klair, 40, was sentenced to three and a half years in jail for sex crimes involving young boys dating back some 20 years.

Klair was sentenced on four counts of sexual interference, three counts sexual assault and one count of sexual assault with a weapon during four separate assaults against minors.

The crimes took place against children between the ages of eight and 13 between 1999 and 2003, before Klair became a teacher.

In a Consent Resolution Agreement from the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Klair agreed to the cancellation of his certificate of qualification.

He will also never apply for another teaching position either in an independent school or within the Ministry of Education.

An agreed statement by Klair and Commissioner Howard Kushner stated, “In determining that cancellation and a lifetime ban on re-issuance are appropriate consequences, the commission considered: Klair engaged in repeated victimization of minors over an extended period of time and (his) conduct was extremely serious and undermined the integrity of the teaching profession.”

The report also states Klair acknowledged “he voluntarily entered into the agreement after being advised of his right to obtain independent legal advice and he fully understood the terms and conditions set out in the agreement.”

During his sentencing in a Vernon court room in September 2021, Supreme Court Justice Murray Blok called the assault “appalling.”