AN ANGRY mother drove into school grounds at high speed and assaulted a schoolteacher she claimed had hit her son, a court heard.

Stacey Lyne Beardsworth, 29, of Ribbleton Drive, Accrington, admitted assaulting PE teacher John Garstang at Moorhead High School.

Hyndburn magistrates also heard that a complaint against Mr Garstang had been lodged by Beardsworth and was being investigated by the education authority.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said Mr Garstang had experienced a number of difficulties with the defendant's son, Christopher.

She said that on May 23 there had been an incident where the boy had been told off by Mr Garstang, who suggested he should improve his manners. The boy responded that he was going home to get his father.

Later that day Mr Garstang was in the school car park when Beardsworth drove straight towards him at high speed. He was forced to jump out of the way of her car. She got out of the car and started shouting abuse, said Miss Fanning.

Mr Garstang turned away to avoid any conflict but Beardsworth shouted: "You are not hitting my son again," and punched him in the head.

The teacher was mindful that children were watching and made no attempt to defend himself but Beardsworth then kicked him in the leg, said Miss Fanning.

Mr Garstang's statement said that Beardsworth had inflicted a number of other blows on him. But Duncan Nightingale, defending, said that while Beardsworth accepted she had assaulted Mr Garstang, she denied the assault was as serious as he alleged.

Magistrates agreed to adjourn the case until August 19 so witnesses could be called to determine the correct version of events and Beardsworth was remanded on unconditional bail.

Beardsworth told police she had assaulted Mr Garstang because she believed he had a grudge against her son, said Miss Fanning. She said Mr Garstang intended to apply for compensation for the attack.

Mr Garstang, who was Christopher Beardsworth's tutor and PE teacher, has been reported to the education authority who are now investigating a complaint made by Beardsworth, said Mr Nightingale.

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