SCHOOL COACH JAILED FOR HEADLOCK ABUSE AND CRUELTY
A sports coach at a special educational needs school who put pupils in headlocks has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for his "cruel bullying" behavior after this abuse was uncovered by a BBC Panorama investigation.The investigation recorded staff at the Life Wirral independent school manhandling pupils, drawing derogatory and homophobic language.
Elliot Millar, aged 21, was caught on footage pulling a boy's head back and drawing a penis on his face, which was presented in court.
Millar pleaded guilty to assaulting three pupils and received a sentence of 12 weeks in detention at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.
The court was informed that footage from an undercover reporter, Sasha Hinde, was passed to Merseyside Police after she spent seven weeks working undercover at the school in Wallasey, leading up to May.
During sentencing, District Judge James Hatton described the behavior as "hideously inappropriate" and "nothing short of cruel bullying." The footage played in court showed Millar drawing on the boy's face while a management figure was seen walking past.
The victim stated he was "embarrassed" in front of his classmates.
The judge emphasized the gravity of the misconduct, including two pupils being put in headlocks and Millar feigning a punch and kick.
The misconduct was described as "gratuitous degradation," with Millar's actions including drawing on a pupil's face and physical aggression.
The family of a victim noted that, despite mistreatment, he thought the abuse was normal.
Millar was also charged with common assault against the journalist, Ms.
Hinde, for reenacting an incident in the staffroom.
The defense argued that Millar has ADHD and was "utterly inappropriate" for his role, stating he started work without training or guidance from the school authorities.
The school, which caters to pupils with special educational needs including autism and ADHD, has since closed following the documentary.
The court declared the abuse endemic and reflective of the school's culture at the time.
