A SCHOOL assistant headteacher twisted a pupil’s arm behind his back to force him to pick up a book from the floor.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Jane Roscoe’s cruelty to the 11-year-old boy ended her 18-year teaching career after another teacher reported her actions.

Jane Roscoe had initially denied cruelty to the boy and another pupil, claiming that the allegations had been made maliciously by other teachers who were engaged in a campaign against her.

However, just two weeks before her trial was due to start, she pleaded guilty to cruelty to one of the pupils and the court ordered the charge of cruelty to a second pupil to lie on file.

Judge Richard Gioserano said he did not accept Roscoe’s assertion that she restrained a boy to prevent his behaviour escalating, believing instead that she had twisted his arm to “prove a point” to him.

“It was never likely to ever demonstrate to him what a proper standard of behaviour was,” he told her.

Charlotte Crangle, prosecuting, told how pupils at Lever Park Special School, Horwich, which educates children with social, educational and behavioural difficulties, were allowed a recreation session at the end of the school day as a reward if they had behaved.

Pupils who misbehaved spent the session doing literacy school work.

On October 20, 2014, an 11-year-old boy was in the literacy class at the end of the day when he was handed a book.

Miss Crangle said the boy protested that the book was not his and, when he was not listened to, he dropped it on to the floor and refused to pick it up.

“He made it clear he was not prepared to do it,” said Miss Crangle.

“The defendant came into the classroom and immediately began to scream at him to pick the book up.”

Roscoe then grabbed the boy’s wrist and twisted his arm upwards, forcing him forwards and not letting go until he obeyed the instruction.

Sam Wilson, another teacher who had only started working at the Stocks Park Drive school a few months earlier, was in the classroom and was so appalled by what he had witnessed that he reported 48-year-old Roscoe.

After learning about the allegation via her husband, Colin Roscoe, who was the school’s headteacher, Roscoe phoned in sick the next day, was then suspended and subsequently resigned.

Her husband also resigned and the court heard he is now retired.

Miss Crangle said restraint techniques were taught to staff at the school.

“They should only be used to keep everyone safe and not as a behaviour management technique,” she said, also adding that twisting a child’s arm is not an approved method.

When questioned by police, Roscoe admitted she had touched the child, but denied twisting his arm.

“She suggested that when she walked into the classroom chaos had reigned,” said Miss Crangle.

Philip Clemo, defending, stressed that Roscoe, who had worked her way up from being a support assistant to a teacher at the school over a period of 18 years, had standing in the community and now had a job providing plants to restaurants.

“It was a standing she has lost in a way which is extremely shameful and embarrassing,” he said.

He added that, at the time, Roscoe’s daughter was ill after having brain surgery and she was finding her job stressful.

“Mrs Roscoe was throwing up most mornings before coming to school because of the pressure and stress she was under,” he added.

“The effects of this conviction have already punished her considerably.

“She has lost her career, she has lost her good standing. She had lost an awful lot already.

Roscoe has now handed back her teaching certificate.

Roscoe, of Pewfist Green, Westhoughton, repeatedly looked down as she stood in the dock to be sentenced.

Roscoe, who was of previous good character, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years and must undertake 80 hours unpaid work.

The judge stressed that children with challenging behaviour are vulnerable and require extra levels of patience and care.

“You showed him (the pupil) no care, understanding and patience at all in the way you treated him,” said Judge Gioserano.

“Fortunately he was not physically harmed but it is hard to judge the psychological impact.”

He added that he had read the prosecution case against that was to have been put before a jury and, if convicted, said she would have been sent to prison immediately.

“Had the court been sentencing you for repeated acts of ill-treatment against pupils at this school the sentence of imprisonment would have been considerably longer and there would have been no prospect of suspending it,” he said.

The boy’s mother was in court and, speaking after the hearing said she was disappointed with the sentence but pleased Roscoe will not be teaching again.

“I am glad she will not be able to do it to anyone else,” she said, added that her son had trouble trusting people and Roscoe’s behaviour towards him had made it worse.

A spokesperson for Lever Park School said: “The allegation occurred during the time that Lever Park School was part of the Lever Park Learning Trust.

“The school has subsequently become an academy within the Bolton Impact Trust.

“The individual was suspended at the time of the allegation coming to light and has not been in the employment of Lever Park Learning Trust since August, 2015.

“An Interim Executive Board was appointed to oversee the running of the school and priority was given to safeguarding resulting in rigorous systems being implemented.

“We would like to reassure parents that we take safeguarding matters seriously and any concerns are dealt with appropriately.”