CRIMINAL RECORD blunders are destroying careers, teachers warned today.

The National Education Union’s ATL section conference  heard that one woman had been told she could no longer work as a childminder because her nephew had been convicted of rape.

Another committed suicide after losing her job for failing to disclose that she had been fined for a public disorder offence — “snorting like a pig” at an undercover police officer — in her university days, Josie Whiteley, president of the ATL leadership section, told the conference.

The woman was later told she had “acted dishonestly” by failing to acknowledge the penalty when starting her “dream job” of working with children in care.

“She felt her career was in tatters and two weeks later she took her own life,” Ms Whiteley said.

Delegates raised concerns that the Disclosure and Barring Service, which checks the criminal records of those applying for certain jobs, such as with children, was not fit for purpose.

Redbridge delegate Graham Edwards told the Star that the system was “getting worse” as cuts to police resources led to delays in checks.

“That is not a criticism of the police. It’s a criticism of the system they are working in,” he added.