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| 'Slap' teacher's sacking unfair | 'Slap' teacher's sacking unfair |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A teacher who was unfairly sacked after his daughter said he kicked and punched her in a row at home could be awarded thousands of pounds in compensation. | A teacher who was unfairly sacked after his daughter said he kicked and punched her in a row at home could be awarded thousands of pounds in compensation. |
| An employment tribunal decided Olchfa Comprehensive School in Swansea was wrong to sack maths teacher David Aldridge. | An employment tribunal decided Olchfa Comprehensive School in Swansea was wrong to sack maths teacher David Aldridge. |
| He admitted slapping his daughter, then a sixth former at the school, but completely denied any serious assault. | |
| She had told school friends about the incident in December 2005. | |
| Police never charged him but he was dismissed by school governors. | Police never charged him but he was dismissed by school governors. |
| Lawyers for Mr Aldridge, who is now working in a private school, are preparing a bid for compensation. That settlement will take into account his loss of earnings and pension as well as compensation for distress. | |
| Giving evidence to the tribunal, Mr Aldridge said he would always regret slapping Sioban after she came home late one night. | |
| "We had an altercation and there was an exchange of slaps but, to my dying day, I absolutely refute the charge that I punched or kicked her," he said. | |
| He was supended on 15 December 2005 but only learnt the full extent of the allegations six days later when he went to the local police station and was arrested. | |
| The disciplinary hearing heard from pupils | |
| National Union of Teachers representative Peggy George told the hearing she had known Mr Aldridge for 31 years, that she did not believe the allegations and that she did not feel the issue was a school matter. | |
| School governor Karen Holland said there was no reason not to believe six of the teenager's friends when they told the disciplinary hearing she had been assaulted - even though Sioban told the hearing they were mistaken. | |
| "That was the first time I realised what I was being accused of," said Mr Aldridge. | |
| His solicitor said Mr Aldridge was relieved by the ruling and they were now preparing for a hearing to reach a settlement. | |
| Lyndsey Ryan said it would take into account his loss of earnings and pension and compensation for the distress caused by the proceedings. |