Teacher 'wanted to scare youths'

Linda Walker claims she acted in self defence

A teacher accused of firing a gun near a gang of youths after a hate campaign told police she went "totally loopy", a court has heard.

Linda Walker, of Urmston, said she had meant to frighten the youths but not hurt them, Minshull St Crown Court, in Manchester, was told.

She admitted firing the gun "up the road" rather than at the gang.

Mrs Walker, 47, of Hollyhouse Drive, denies affray and possession of a firearm, claiming self defence.

I went out to scare them with the guns. I was that mad at the time but I didn't go out to shoot anyone Linda Walker's statement to police

The court was told Mrs Walker's home had been vandalised and she had received threatening phone calls.

The jury was told she had confronted the gang in August 2004 because she thought they had tried to vandalise her son's car, although she admitted she had not seen them do it.

They started laughing at her and threatening her, she said, and she went back to pick up an air rifle and a gas powered pellet pistol "to scare them" and for "self defence".

She then phoned the police for help.

She told police: "I didn't want them to get away before the police came.

"I was totally off my head, totally loopy, but I didn't go out to hurt anyone."

Law 'backs criminals'

She added: "I went out to scare them with the guns. I was that mad at the time but I didn't go out to shoot anyone."

The court has been told Mrs Walker is accused of telling 18-year-old Robert McKiernan to move his foot and then firing up to six shots into the pavement.

But, when asked by police, she denied aiming the gun at the boys, saying she had fired it "up the road".

The mother-of-two teaches children with behavioural problems at a special school.

Her partner, John Cavanagh, 56, is also accused of confronting the youths and denies affray.

The trial continues.