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From The Times
October 3, 2003

Teacher cleared of fish-head attack

By Glen Owen, Education Correspondent
A HEADMASTER accused of stuffing a dead fish down a pupil’s throat was acquitted after magistrates ruled that he had no case to answer.

David Watkins, 51, was told by Norwich Magistrates’ Court that the evidence against him was “manifestly unreliable”. Mr Watkins, who has more than 30 years’ experience in teaching, criticised the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for putting him through a “nightmare” ordeal.

“It’s been the most difficult time in my life,” he said. “I’m not bitter, I’m disappointed. I don’t blame the parents, I blame the CPS and I blame the police. It’s a good result for education.”

The court was told that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took a fish head into school and had been chasing girls with it. Joe Ghirardello, for the prosecution, had alleged that Mr Watkins had been seen putting the boy into a headlock and trying to force-feed him with the head.

Mr Watkins, denying the charge, said that he had taken hold of the boy’s hand and bent it towards the fish head, which was on the ground.

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