Teacher grabbed boy and dragged him across the floor during row

Man’s career on the line after he admits assaulting teenager

The career of a Perth primary school teacher is in tatters after he admitted assaulting a child in an argument over a damaged worktop.

Alan Norris assaulted the 15-year-old boy by grabbing him and dragging him across a floor.

The 47-year-old, who was suspended from his post at Craigie Primary School following his arrest, was said to be suffering from stress at the time of the incident.

It is believed that he may face a disciplinary hearing at the General Teaching Council for Scotland, where a possible sanction is being struck from the teaching register.

At Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday, depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had “certain difficulties”.

He said: “There was an argument about something relatively trivial – about damage to a kitchen worktop as the complainer had been cutting something.

“That escalated and the accused appears unable to control his anger. He’s grabbed hold of him and pulled him across the floor.”

Solicitor John McLaughlin, defending, said Norris had been under “significant stress” at the time of the incident.

“He felt very unwell and very low” he said. “Something sparked the argument, he went out to calm down and when he came back and suggested (the boy) make an apology to a family member he was met with disinterest.

“He tells me that from the end of this month he will be unable to follow his profession. He tells me he loves his profession but it’s become very stressful. “This is completely out of character.” Norris, of Loch Achary, Trossachs, admitted assaulting the boy at an address in Birnam by grabbing him by the body and pulling him across the floor on March 16.

Sheriff William Wood accepted that the events had been “entirely out of character”.

“Reading between the lines, you appear to have lost it,” he said.

He deferred sentence until March for Norris to be of good behaviour.