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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Teacher sacking over row unfair | Teacher sacking over row unfair |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Swansea teacher sacked following allegations that he kicked and punched his daughter was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled. | |
| David Aldridge was suspended from Olchfa Comprehensive School in Swansea, in December 2005. | David Aldridge was suspended from Olchfa Comprehensive School in Swansea, in December 2005. |
| His daughter, then a pupil at the school, is alleged to have told friends he abused during a row at home - a claim she later denied. | His daughter, then a pupil at the school, is alleged to have told friends he abused during a row at home - a claim she later denied. |
| Mr Aldridge was arrested but no charges were brought. | Mr Aldridge was arrested but no charges were brought. |
| The tribunal heard that Mr Aldridge admitted slapping his daughter Siobhan but strenuously denied any serious assault. | |
| 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 Teacher David Aldridge | 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 Teacher David Aldridge |
| It is claimed that she had told school friends about the incident and it came to the attention of school authorities. | |
| Mr Adridge was later dismissed by school governors. His daughter denies ever telling friends she was kicked or punched. | |
| Lawyers for the teacher, now working in a private school, are preparing a bid for compensation. | |
| Giving evidence to the tribunal, Mr Aldridge said he would always regret slapping Siobhan 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. | "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. |
| The hearing was told 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 hearing was told 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 | 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. | 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 Siobhan told the hearing they were mistaken. | |
| "That was the first time I realised what I was being accused of," said Mr Aldridge. | "That was the first time I realised what I was being accused of," said Mr Aldridge. |
| Solicitor Lyndsey Ryan, acting for Mr Aldridge, said he was relieved by the judgement. | |
| Claims for compensation are now being prepared which could run into thousands of pounds. |