Teacher cleared of assaulting boy
A maths teacher has been cleared of common assault on a pupil whom he feared was about to stab him.
Frederick Clive Harding, 44, who is also head of PE at Greendown School in Swindon, Wiltshire, was found not guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court.
His solicitor said: "We're delighted that this dedicated and committed teacher...has been wholly vindicated."
The incident happened last May when Mr Harding tried to restrain the boy as he ran out of class.
The boy, who was 12 at the time, was messing around with his mobile phone in class, despite repeated requests to stop, the court heard.
Force 'not proved'
The boy then ran to the door and Mr Harding grabbed him by his sweatshirt and pulled him back to his seat.
When the boy was back at his chair, he tried to stand up again but Mr Harding used two hands to push him down.
Mr Harding then crouched down by him but saw something "metallic", which he feared may be a knife, the court heard.
Describing the moment in his evidence earlier in the week, Mr Harding said: "I just put my hands up in front of me for protection. I thought he was going to stab me with something."
However, the object turned out to be the mobile phone.
Chairman of magistrates Malcolm Wilford said that issues surrounding the unlawful use of force "have not been proved" and described the teacher's actions as "acceptable".
A maths teacher has been cleared of common assault on a pupil whom he feared was about to stab him.
Frederick Clive Harding, 44, who is also head of PE at Greendown School in Swindon, Wiltshire, was found not guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court.
His solicitor said: "We're delighted that this dedicated and committed teacher...has been wholly vindicated."
The incident happened last May when Mr Harding tried to restrain the boy as he ran out of class.
The boy, who was 12 at the time, was messing around with his mobile phone in class, despite repeated requests to stop, the court heard.
Force 'not proved'
The boy then ran to the door and Mr Harding grabbed him by his sweatshirt and pulled him back to his seat.
When the boy was back at his chair, he tried to stand up again but Mr Harding used two hands to push him down.
Mr Harding then crouched down by him but saw something "metallic", which he feared may be a knife, the court heard.
Describing the moment in his evidence earlier in the week, Mr Harding said: "I just put my hands up in front of me for protection. I thought he was going to stab me with something."
However, the object turned out to be the mobile phone.
Chairman of magistrates Malcolm Wilford said that issues surrounding the unlawful use of force "have not been proved" and described the teacher's actions as "acceptable".
