Teacher spared jail over assault

Beryl Thompson admitted nine charges of common assault.

A special needs teacher who admitted holding a child's head under water and smearing spaghetti on the faces of two children has been spared jail.

At Mold Crown Court, Beryl Thompson, 53, was sentenced to 160 hours of community service after pleading guilty to nine charges of common assault.

Thompson, of Kensington Way in Northwich, Cheshire, taught at Dee Banks School in Chester.

The judge told her she "became vulnerable to losing [her] temper."

'Excellent teacher'

Thompson had earlier denied 14 counts of child cruelty but pleaded guilty to the alternative charges, four days into her trial.

Judge David Hale praised the first 28 years of Thompson's teaching career.

"In the last period of 20 months, for whatever reason, on isolated occasions, nine in total, she lost her temper and lashed out - incidents that lasted just a second.

"You have on the evidence been an excellent teacher dealing with extremely difficult and vulnerable children for many years, and you have done so in a hitherto unselfish and caring way.

Staff at the school were praised for giving evidence against Mrs Thompson, and the judge said he hoped they would not be criticised for not coming forward earlier.

David Cracknell, the director of education at Cheshire County Council, said child safety issues were treated seriously by the authorities.

"In this case, for whatever reason, it would seem that earlier incidents were not reported. There could well be lessons to be learned," he said.