Gun incident teacher admits shame

Linda Walker told the hearing she was ashamed of her actions

A teacher jailed for confronting youths with a gun admitted she was ashamed of her actions, a hearing has been told.

Linda Walker was convicted in March 2005 of discharging a pellet gun near a teenager's feet after her family had suffered months of crime and vandalism.

The 50-year-old, from Urmston, Greater Manchester, was initially jailed for six months over the attack.

A General Teaching Council committee is meeting to decide whether Mrs Walker should be banned from teaching.

Her jail sentence, for possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and affray, was quashed on appeal and replaced with a 12-month conditional discharge.

'Heavy price'

At the General Teaching Council's disciplinary hearing, which is taking place in Birmingham, Mrs Walker admitted unacceptable professional conduct and claimed she had paid a heavy price for her actions.

Asking the committee not to ban her from teaching, she said: "I have got remorse and I am ashamed of my behaviour. I realise it was an awful thing to do.

My sons were under threat and it was frightening Linda Walker

"I am totally ashamed of what I did and I am sorry that I did it. I have already paid a heavy price, having been in three prisons, suffered public humiliation, lost my job and my livelihood."

She also described the torment the gang had inflicted on her family, including nuisance calls and vandalism.

"It was obvious in the end that it was aimed at my children and I was frightened at what was going to happen to them," she said.

Shouted abuse

"I did not know where they would be prepared to stop. My sons were under threat and it was frightening."

Mrs Walker, who taught children with behavioural problems at New Park High School in Eccles, Salford, at the time of the incident in August 2004, admitted that she had shouted abuse at the boys and had gone back into her house to fetch an air pistol and an air rifle.

She also admitted that she had discharged the air pistol at least once before leaving the house.

However, her lawyer, Cliff Anderson, told the hearing she disputed a third allegation that she fired at least two pellets from the pistol at the ground near one of the boys' feet.

The hearing continues.