My heartbreak, by sacked dinner lady who denies threat to ‘smash in faces’ of primary pupils
A DINNER lady yesterday told of her “heartbreak” after school chiefs sacked her for allegedly threatening to “smash in the faces” of two primary pupils.
Grandmother Janet Parker, 56, was hauled before staff and told there was “overwhelming evidence”, including CCTV camera footage, of her violently threatening the “startled” youngsters.
But tearful Mrs Parker insisted she made no such threats and is furious at her dismissal from the job she has held at Craven primary school in Hull for nearly 30 years.
She said yesterday: “I was accused of saying something nasty, which was, ‘I’m going to smash your face in’.
“There’s no way I would say that to a child. I even know the family. I can’t understand why they’ve done this.”
A spokesman for Delta Academies Trust, which runs the school, yesterday confirmed Mrs Parker had been dismissed following a “full and proper investigation”.
Mrs Parker, who said she had seen the soundless CCTV footage, conceded that she did walk up to the children and speak to them.
Overwhelming
But she strongly denied threatening the pupils with violence.
After her dismissal meeting on Thursday morning it is believed the angry grandmother-of-five “had to be escorted off the premises” where she had worked since 1990.
Mrs Parker said: “I feel heartbroken. Tearful Janet Parker, 56, who has denied making violent threats to children at her school I just don’t know what to do now because I’ve worked there for 28 years and for them to do this to me – it’s just been a waste.
“I have got five grandchildren and I wouldn’t dream of saying anything like that to them, so why would I say it to somebody else’s children?”
Mrs Parker, from Hull, said the school had sacked her over health and safety issues and allegations of gross misconduct.
“I’m really upset about it at the moment,” she added. The Delta Academies Trust spokesman said: “We confirm that a member of staff was dismissed for gross misconduct.
“Parents know safeguarding is the top priority in all our academies.
“Where this is compromised, we will act in the best interests of the children in our care.
“We have conducted a full and proper investigation. The wide range of evidence, which included CCTV footage, was overwhelming.”