A HEADTEACHER has released a 1,315 word statement about his four-year struggle with a parent who
has been convicted of harassing school staff.

Simon Mason, the headteacher at Honywood Community Science School in Coggeshall, penned the two-page article in his school’s Honywood Gazette.

In it he said one parent had "consistently called" for his dismissal and accused members of school staff of being paedophiles.

He wrote: "This person used aggressive, offensive and threatening language from the earliest days during which we tried to build a working relationship with him.

"It quickly became clear he had no interest in building a relationship with us – he seemed to thrive on gathering power over others, revelling in the conflict he created."

He added: "During the time his youngster has been with us, through his persistent complaining, this parent has triggered at least two Ofsted investigations of the school – either of which could have resulted in me losing my job."

The parent referred to was Alan Knibbs, who was charged with harassing seven members of Honywood School, staff and governors between November 1 2011 and January 9 2015 by sending multiple emails and posting videos on YouTube.

Knibbs originally denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty at the hearing on November 9.

Magistrates issued a five-year restraining order against Knibbs, 57, of Knights Road, Coggeshall, to limit him to email contact with staff, only about issues regarding his child’s education, or to mutually agreed meetings with the headmaster.

Knibbs was also banned from entering school premises and from publishing anything which could amount to the harassment of any past or present school staff or governors.

In his open letter, Mr Mason finished by thanking parents for theit support, saying the stress the case had caused him had been "very difficult to bear".

He wrote: "Rather than becoming defensive and insular as a result of the attacks we have endured, we have chosen to be even more open with our community, even more welcoming and even more ready to involve our families in the learning in which we are all engaging as we look to make our school as good
as it is possible to be."

Knibbs refuted Mr Mason's comments, saying: "Most of it is exaggerated.

"I’m quite happy for him to say whatever he likes because I’m going to be following this up with a private prosecution.

"I will be dealing with it through the courts."