Judge's fury at decision to prosecute exemplary primary school teacher, 67, on 'flimsy' assault char

A JUDGE has slammed the CPS for dragging an exemplary  teacher  through the courts on a flimsy assault charge.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders acquitted Jean McCormick, saying the allegations were made by an “irrational, over-protective parent”.

The PE teacher, 67, had been accused of grabbing a pupil by the arm and bruising him after he called classmates names then ran off.

But Chester JPs’ court heard Jean — who has an unblemished 38-year record at the school — held him lightly by the shoulders to reinforce the  no-running policy.

Judge Sanders said: “It is deeply sad that a lady of her experience should be dragged through the court on what really comes down to the flimsiest of evidence, fuelled by an irrational and over-protective mother.

“There’s absolutely no way a court could convict anyone on this evidence.”

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The boy’s mum called cops and Ofsted last summer after being told by another parent about the alleged incident at Overleigh St Mary’s Primary in the city. She also claimed her son had been left with a bruise.

Jean said she had acted in accordance with her training, adding:  “Most children are covered in bruises at that age, from being in the playground.”

Judge Sanders said the boy’s mum was “clearly bent on causing as much trouble as possible”.

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