Teacher and teaching assistant sentenced for assaulting a pupil at Milton Keynes school

After a trial last Wednesday and Thursday at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court, a presiding judge found teacher Sandra Humphrey and teaching assistant Sharon Benton each guilty of one count of common assault.

Benton, aged 50, of Spearmint Close, Walnut Tree, and Humphrey, aged 52, from Lincolnshire, were each sentenced to a conditional discharge for six months, fined £300 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20.

Investigating officer, detective constable Tejinder Sidhu of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit based at Bletchley, said: “Teacher Sandra Humphrey and teaching assistant Sharon Benton tried to remove the victim from the classroom at Stephenson Academy in Milton Keynes on June 14 last year.

“Humphrey and Benton acted inappropriately by dragging the pupil from the classroom using unnecessary force.

“During the incident the pupil sustained bruising to his leg and minor injuries to his ribs.

“Thames Valley Police has worked closely with Stephenson Academy which has fully cooperated with the police investigation. Following the incident, the academy held an internal investigation and both members of staff were found to have committed gross misconduct and were subsequently dismissed.

“Thames Valley Police has also supported the victim and his parents throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Now the defendants have been convicted and sentenced, I hope the pupil and his family can now move on from this extremely distressing incident.”

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