Teacher resigns after assaults

John Berryman has been suspended for over a year

A school teacher, who pleaded guilty to assaulting two of his pupils, has resigned.

John Berryman, who was head of biology at Newtown High School in Powys, had been suspended after the separate incidents in early 2003.

He admitted common assault by beating at Aberystwyth Magistrates Court last October and was fined £200.

An internal investigation will now not go ahead.

A spokesman from Powys Council confirmed that Mr Berryman, 43, had tended his resignation on 15 June - and that it had been accepted.

He had been suspended since February 2003.

Aberystwyth magistrates were told Mr Berryman assaulted the pupils in January and February last year, in two separate incidents.

He was fined and also had to pay £100 costs.