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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Throttle' teacher is struck off | 'Throttle' teacher is struck off |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A teacher who "throttled" a pupil aged five while holding him against a classroom wall has been struck off. | A teacher who "throttled" a pupil aged five while holding him against a classroom wall has been struck off. |
| A General Teaching Council of Wales panel upheld claims of unacceptable conduct and serious incompetence against Benjamin Warner, 36. | A General Teaching Council of Wales panel upheld claims of unacceptable conduct and serious incompetence against Benjamin Warner, 36. |
| He had already been dismissed by Sandy Lane Infants School, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, but denied the claims. | He had already been dismissed by Sandy Lane Infants School, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, but denied the claims. |
| He did not attend the two-day Cardiff disciplinary hearing, but in a letter said he lacked support at the school. | He did not attend the two-day Cardiff disciplinary hearing, but in a letter said he lacked support at the school. |
| A catalogue of alleged abuse involving Mr Warner's class of five and six-year-olds at the school was outlined. | A catalogue of alleged abuse involving Mr Warner's class of five and six-year-olds at the school was outlined. |
| He was said to have shut three children in a store cupboard, knocked another off a chair and dragged a boy by his jumper across the school hall. | He was said to have shut three children in a store cupboard, knocked another off a chair and dragged a boy by his jumper across the school hall. |
| He could not cope or control his temper Head teacher Susan Richards | He could not cope or control his temper Head teacher Susan Richards |
| Trainee teaching assistant Gemma McCluskey saw the pupil being held by the throat and ran sobbing from the classroom shouting: "He's throttling him," the panel heard. | Trainee teaching assistant Gemma McCluskey saw the pupil being held by the throat and ran sobbing from the classroom shouting: "He's throttling him," the panel heard. |
| Head teacher Susan Richards told the disciplinary panel they were "appalled" by what Miss McCluskey reported. | Head teacher Susan Richards told the disciplinary panel they were "appalled" by what Miss McCluskey reported. |
| The incident happened after the boy jumped into his teacher's back and put his arm around his neck in a classroom prank. | The incident happened after the boy jumped into his teacher's back and put his arm around his neck in a classroom prank. |
| Mrs Richards said: "I was concerned about the safety of the children and my priority was getting Mr Warner out of the classroom. | Mrs Richards said: "I was concerned about the safety of the children and my priority was getting Mr Warner out of the classroom. |
| "In more than 30 years of teaching I had never dealt with such a severe case. He could not cope or control his temper. | "In more than 30 years of teaching I had never dealt with such a severe case. He could not cope or control his temper. |
| The hearing was told of several incidents involving the teacher | The hearing was told of several incidents involving the teacher |
| "Miss McCluskey said she could not believe a teacher could do such a thing and ran out." | "Miss McCluskey said she could not believe a teacher could do such a thing and ran out." |
| Mr Warner was also accused of knocking the boy he had grabbed by the throat from a chair, banging his head on the tiled floor. | Mr Warner was also accused of knocking the boy he had grabbed by the throat from a chair, banging his head on the tiled floor. |
| 'At risk' | 'At risk' |
| In another incident he was said to have dragged a pupil across the hall by his sweatshirt after a toy car he had brought in was broken, and the boy was left with a red mark on his arm. | In another incident he was said to have dragged a pupil across the hall by his sweatshirt after a toy car he had brought in was broken, and the boy was left with a red mark on his arm. |
| Deputy head teacher Elizabeth Beynon said she saw Mr Warner pull the pupil 8m (26ft) in the direction of the boys' toilets. | Deputy head teacher Elizabeth Beynon said she saw Mr Warner pull the pupil 8m (26ft) in the direction of the boys' toilets. |
| "The children were very shocked. They were scared of him," said Mrs Beynon. | "The children were very shocked. They were scared of him," said Mrs Beynon. |
| "These are five and six-year-old children and he was quite a large gentleman and he could put these children at risk." | "These are five and six-year-old children and he was quite a large gentleman and he could put these children at risk." |
| In another alleged incident Mrs Beynon heard Mr Warner shout "get out" to a group of children. Mr Warner was said to have shut three other pupils in a store cupboard after they went to look at toys inside and refused to come out. | In another alleged incident Mrs Beynon heard Mr Warner shout "get out" to a group of children. Mr Warner was said to have shut three other pupils in a store cupboard after they went to look at toys inside and refused to come out. |
| He refused the children sand, water and toys, all resources usually found in a class for year one pupils. | He refused the children sand, water and toys, all resources usually found in a class for year one pupils. |
| Mr Warner did not attend the hearing and he did not have a legal or union representative there. | Mr Warner did not attend the hearing and he did not have a legal or union representative there. |
| Good references | Good references |
| But in a letter read to the hearing he claimed he felt there was a lack of support to help him deal with six disruptive children in the class. | But in a letter read to the hearing he claimed he felt there was a lack of support to help him deal with six disruptive children in the class. |
| He wrote: "I didn't have enough support from the school". | He wrote: "I didn't have enough support from the school". |
| The hearing was also told that when he was interviewed for the post he provided good references. He was viewed as an experienced teacher, and well able to deal with children in challenging situations. | The hearing was also told that when he was interviewed for the post he provided good references. He was viewed as an experienced teacher, and well able to deal with children in challenging situations. |
| No criminal charges were ever made and no parents complained to police, but the allegations were so serious they were scrutinised by the local education authority, police and teaching staff. | No criminal charges were ever made and no parents complained to police, but the allegations were so serious they were scrutinised by the local education authority, police and teaching staff. |
| Mr Warner was dismissed from the school after a disciplinary hearing. | Mr Warner was dismissed from the school after a disciplinary hearing. |
| He was struck off after being found guilty of 11 out of 13 charges against him and told he could not reapply for registration for five years. | He was struck off after being found guilty of 11 out of 13 charges against him and told he could not reapply for registration for five years. |
| Panel chairwoman Jacqui Turnbull said Mr Warner's conduct was "fundamentally incompatible with being a registered teacher." | Panel chairwoman Jacqui Turnbull said Mr Warner's conduct was "fundamentally incompatible with being a registered teacher." |
| She said: "His conduct seriously affected the well being of pupils - both deliberately and through incompetence." | She said: "His conduct seriously affected the well being of pupils - both deliberately and through incompetence." |
| Mr Warner told a news agency after the hearing: "I don't want to talk about it any more. | |
| "It has dragged on for a year-and-a-half and just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I have had enough". | "It has dragged on for a year-and-a-half and just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I have had enough". |