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| Chucklevision row teacher cleared | Chucklevision row teacher cleared |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A supply teacher has been cleared of hitting a 13-year-old boy who teased him about looking like a character from the Chuckle Brothers' TV show. | A supply teacher has been cleared of hitting a 13-year-old boy who teased him about looking like a character from the Chuckle Brothers' TV show. |
| Jonathan Burrett, 41, from Newport, had denied attacking the boy after he sung the Chucklevision theme tune in class. | Jonathan Burrett, 41, from Newport, had denied attacking the boy after he sung the Chucklevision theme tune in class. |
| Mr Burrett told Cardiff Crown Court he was used to being compared to Barry Chuckle but it had not been a problem. | Mr Burrett told Cardiff Crown Court he was used to being compared to Barry Chuckle but it had not been a problem. |
| The jury took less than an hour to find the married father-of-one not guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm. | The jury took less than an hour to find the married father-of-one not guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm. |
| Speaking after the case, Mr Burrett said: "There's a concern amongst many teachers that when they use lawful restraints upon unruly pupils it could result in them being charged with a criminal offence. | |
| "I'm obviously very pleased that this is over and as I'm walking out of that door with my clean character completely intact I'm looking forward to telling my wife and daughter." | |
| The court had previously heard that the boy had been singing or humming the theme tune to Chucklevision during a sewing lesson at the comprehensive school in Torfaen where Mr Burrett was on a three-day placement. | |
| Mr Burrett was alleged to have asked the boy to stop singing before hitting him four times to the back and grabbing him by the shirt. | Mr Burrett was alleged to have asked the boy to stop singing before hitting him four times to the back and grabbing him by the shirt. |
| I did have a large moustache at the time. I expect to somebody of limited intelligence I would look like Barry from Chucklevision Jonathan Burrett | I did have a large moustache at the time. I expect to somebody of limited intelligence I would look like Barry from Chucklevision Jonathan Burrett |
| However, Mr Burrett maintained that he had patted the boy in a "friendly and gentle way". | However, Mr Burrett maintained that he had patted the boy in a "friendly and gentle way". |
| He had told the jury he had spoken "quietly", put his hand on the boy's shoulder and his chair, to try to place it on the floor because he had been tilting back on it. | He had told the jury he had spoken "quietly", put his hand on the boy's shoulder and his chair, to try to place it on the floor because he had been tilting back on it. |
| Mr Burrett had also denied being angered by the Chuckle Brother jibe, explaining that other children had previously made the same comparison but he would diffuse the situation with humour. | Mr Burrett had also denied being angered by the Chuckle Brother jibe, explaining that other children had previously made the same comparison but he would diffuse the situation with humour. |
| He told the court: "I did have a large moustache at the time. I expect to somebody of limited intelligence I would look like Barry from Chucklevision." | He told the court: "I did have a large moustache at the time. I expect to somebody of limited intelligence I would look like Barry from Chucklevision." |
| The boy had become "extremely rude and aggressive", Mr Burrett told the jury, and had started swearing at him and swinging out with his arms, hitting the teacher in the groin area. | The boy had become "extremely rude and aggressive", Mr Burrett told the jury, and had started swearing at him and swinging out with his arms, hitting the teacher in the groin area. |
| Mr Burrett said he was used to being compared to Barry Chuckle | Mr Burrett said he was used to being compared to Barry Chuckle |
| Speaking after the case, Mr Burrett said he was "very pleased" the ordeal was over, adding: "I'm walking out of the door with my clean character completely intact." | Speaking after the case, Mr Burrett said he was "very pleased" the ordeal was over, adding: "I'm walking out of the door with my clean character completely intact." |
| Mr Burrett, who has not taught since the incident last July, was unsure when he would return to teaching but said he hoped to "give it another go." | Mr Burrett, who has not taught since the incident last July, was unsure when he would return to teaching but said he hoped to "give it another go." |