A ‘volatile’ father spat in the face of a deputy headteacher after his son was expelled from school, a court has heard.

Jonathan Semain, 51, had been called into Mount Carmel School in Accrington to have a meeting with the headteacher and deputy headteacher regarding his child.

Alex Beevers, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said Semain’s son had previously been temporarily excluded from the school.

Headteacher Xavier Bowers and deputy head Paul Dugdale called Semain in for a meeting to talk about his son's reintroduction to the school.

On January 23, 2020, Semain went to the school for the meeting and asked if he could video it, which was agreed to.

From the offset, Semain was ‘volatile’, Mr Beevers said, claiming the school ‘favoured certain pupils’ and a ‘racist marker’ had been put on his son’s file.

Mr Bowers managed to bring the meeting to an end, but Semain left the meeting still angry.

As Mr Bowers and Mr Dugdale escorted Semain from the building he was still shouting about the school favouring certain pupils.

When Mr Dugdale opened the door for him, Semain spat in his face while another pupil watched on.

They managed to get Semain out of the door but even then, verbal altercations continued outside.

Semain was interviewed on July 22 when he denied spitting into Mr Dugdale’s face, saying the footage looked as if it had been ‘doctored’.

He went on to say Dugdale was ‘breathing garlic at him’ and he blew air at him so he could avoid smelling his breath.

Following a trial, Semain was found guilty of one count of common assault.

Mitigating, Roger Brown said Semain, of Fern Gore Avenue, Accrington, was a single father and his sons depended on him.

Mr Brown also said Semain had not offended for many years and of his previous offences, none were similar in nature.

During his trial, Semain told the jury that he could be 'volatile' when dealing with the school and he 'speaks his mind'.

Judge Philip Parry said it was Semain’s sons which had spared him from an immediate custodial sentence.

Judge Parry said: “What you did on January 23, 2020, was awful, it was intended to degrade that teacher.

“You deserve to go to prison today but I’m not going to do that.

“It’s your children that save you from custody.”

Semain was handed a nine-month community order and must complete 20 rehabilitation requirement days.

He will also be subject to an electronically monitored curfew for six weeks between 7pm and 6am.