Father, 30, punched female primary school headteacher after she suspended his son for swearing and racially abusing Somali pupil

By Sam Webb

Paul Stratford punched the headteacher of the school his son attends

She had suspended the eight-year-old for racially abusing another pupil

Stratford claims he feared the head would 'blind her son' with her nails

A thug dad attacked a female primary school headteacher after she suspended his son for swearing and racially abusing another pupil, a court heard.

Paul Stratford, of Swindon in Wiltshire, punched and forcefully shoved Zita McCormick in front of shocked staff after a showdown over his eight-year-old son Brendan’s behaviour.

The 30-year-old dad claimed he was only protecting his son, who was crying after Mrs McCormick decided to exclude him for his third act of anti-social behaviour that week.

She sent him home for the day for day because he had allegedly sworn in front of a group of Spanish visitors and had also been involved in racially abusing a Somali boy.

Brandon’s mother was called to collect him from Seven Fields Primary School in Swindon but Stratford arrived and demanded to see the head.

He claimed he only grabbed and gently pushed away her wagging finger from his son’s face - because he feared her long nails could blind him.

Mrs McCormick told Swindon Magistrates Court how she tried to explain the situation, but Stratford was very angry, shouting 'You called my son a f****g thug'.

She said: 'Mr Stratford made two huge steps and actually punched and pushed me and said ‘Don’t tell my son off'.

Source: The Daily Mail