Teacher 'insulted Muslim pupil'

Hazel Dick denies religiously aggravated common assault

A teacher forced a Muslim pupil to remove a headscarf and then said her religion was a "big joke", a court has been told.

Hazel Dick, 43, of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, is accused of scratching the 15-year-old girl's chin with a pin holding the scarf in place as she removed the garment.

Stuart Alford, prosecuting at Peterborough Crown Court, said Ms Dick also insulted the Islamic religion by saying: "Islam is all a big joke".

The teacher denies a charge of religiously aggravated common assault.

On Monday jurors were told the incident occurred last March at Bretton Woods Community School in Peterborough, where Ms Dick was head of science.

Mr Alford said the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a Muslim pupil who chose to wear a hijab - a headscarf tied around her head.

On 26 March the girl arrived at school wearing a black hijab instead of the school uniform hijab.

The (girl) says... that Ms Dick became annoyed and she pulled the scarf from her head forcibly Stuart Alford, prosecuting

He said Ms Dick asked the girl to change the headscarf for a uniform version when she came to class.

"It was whilst she was changing her scarf that this incident happened," said Mr Alford.

"(The girl) was unfastening the pins which held the scarf in place ... (she) began unfastening the pins under her chin.

"(She) says it was at this point that Ms Dick became annoyed and she pulled the scarf from her head forcibly.

"As she did so the pins ... particularly the one under her chin, opened up and became undone and scratched across her neck."

Concerned teacher

He said Ms Dick also insulted the girl's religion.

He told the court Ms Dick said: "'Doesn't your religion teach you any respect? Would you look at your father like that? The amount you respect Allah. That is the amount I respect your shoe. Islam is all a big joke.'"

Mr Alford said two other pupils witnessed the incident.

However, he said Ms Dick told police during an interview the girl unpinned the scarf and "just slid it off at the back".

The teacher also told officers she was concerned as the girl was changing her scarf in public.

The hearing continues on Tuesday.