Winners & Losers star Paul Moore suspended from teaching after ugly spat with ex-wife Sarah Grace

Winners & Losers star Paul Moore has been suspended from teaching after sending a bogus email to parents at his ex-wife’s acting school.

Moore played Wes Fitzpatrick on the TV show from 2011 to 2016 alongside his then-wife Sarah Grace, who played his on-screen spouse Bridget Gross.

Since the show ended, he has appeared in streaming TV shows and taught acting at Moore Acting Instinct.

However, the Victorian Institute of Teaching on Thursday suspended his teaching registration on an interim basis, according to its Register of Disciplinary Action.

It is not suggested his suspension was related to the fake email and resulting defamation case, and the reasons for it are unclear.

Moore wrote a cryptic Facebook post after the suspension was handed down, before deleting it.

‘Everything happens for a reason in life. What is the lesson? Learn from it and move on. Time to frigging charge! Even harder!!! Haters will hate,’ it read.

Moore and Grace started acting school Mooregrace in 2006, partially financed by the $48,000 he won on Deal Or No Deal in 2007.

He also proposed to Grace on the game show.

But after their marriage collapsed in 2016 and he left the school, which is still run by Grace alone, he hacked into the school’s email account.

Since the show ended, he has appeared in streaming TV shows and taught acting at Moore Acting Instinct, but he is now banned from teaching

Moore and Grace started acting school Mooregrace in 2006, partially financed by the $48,000 he won on Deal Or No Deal in 2007

Moore’s fake email, sent to the school’s entire contact list, falsely claimed one of its staff engaged in ‘inappropriate behaviour’ with a student.

‘We are shocked and upset,’ the September 2016 email read, claiming a parent with a long association with the school made the compliant.

‘Although we stand behind all our teaching staff, we take these complaints very seriously. 

‘I can assure you that [the teacher] will no longer be working at Mooregrace until we have all of the answers. 

‘It is a very sad day for Mooregrace, as [the teacher] is loved by many of our students and staff.’

Grace and the falsely accused teacher sued Moore for defamation in 2017, claiming the email was a deliberate attempt to hurt the school’s reputation.

Moore admitted sending the email at the time, claiming he was provoked and wanted to ‘scare’ the teacher into taking him seriously.

But after their marriage collapsed in 2016 and he left the school, which is still run by Grace alone, he hacked into the school’s email account

Grace has sons Jack, 4, and Leo, 1, with her boyfriend of five years Adamo Di Biase and last year spoke of her joy of being a mother

The email was sent at a time when Moore’s marriage and professional life was falling apart and he was struggling with anxiety.

‘I have learnt how to let go of poisonous negative thoughts and I am now trying to rebuild my life slowly,’ he said at the time. 

Moore said he was ‘totally ashamed’ of his actions and had resolved the matter with Grace.

Grace at the time said she brought the lawsuit to clear the school’s name and that of the falsely accused teacher. 

‘Although (Moore’s) done some things that are really hurtful I want the best for him,’ she said. The lawsuit was later withdrawn.

Grace continued to run the school in Geelong, now called Grace Acting Studios, which employs 16 staff and taught hundreds of students.

She has sons Jack, 4, and Leo, 1, with her boyfriend of five years Adamo Di Biase and last year spoke of her joy of being a mother.