Attack at high school

Teen hits teacher with hammer

AN EXPERIENCED teacher was attacked with a hammer and other tools as he tried to prevent another staff member’s ute from being broken into at a Townsville school’s carpark.

Heatley Secondary College teacher Glenn Forrest, who has been at the school for 10 years, suffered six injuries to his arm when he confronted a car full of four youths who were in the school grounds on August 1.

Police have confirmed one of the offenders in the car, believed to be a teenager, attempted to smash the front window of the Toyota Hilux about midday.

The window didn’t smash and the teen scurried back to his getaway car.

It was here Mr Forrest intervened and tried to drag the boy from the vehicle.

Police said the teacher was struck with a hammer to the arm, but it’s understood he suffered several blows and struck his head as he fell back when the car sped away.

The Department of Education confirmed the incident did not involve school’s students.

The youths left behind a Woolworths green bag that contained two cordless drills that were missing, but not reported stolen, from the manual arts facility at the school.

Kirwan Police Station officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Jason Brosnan said it appeared the incident was an opportunistic offence, which he labelled as “concerning”.

He said the attempted break-in was “unusual”.

“Generally, you find schools any of the are targeted during holidays, or after hours,” Sgt Brosnan said.

“They can, on occasions, be targeted – they (the offenders) are usually after lollies and soft drinks from tuckshops and ipads from computer rooms.

“But for a school to be targeted during business hours and in the daylight is unusual.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman confirmed the incident in the college carpark on August 1.

“A staff member was injured in the incident, which was reported to the Queensland Police Service,” the spokeswoman said. “The incident did not involve a school student.”

The spokeswoman said there had not been any reports of vandalism or break-ins at the school this year.

Townsville MP and former principal Scott Stewart said the incident was “appalling” and he hoped the teacher recovered from his injuries.

“That’s absolutely appalling in someone’s workplace, let alone in their community,” Mr Stewart said.

The four people remain on the run and police are investigating. Phone Policelink on 131 444 if you have information.