GARY SPEIGHT FROM WHAPLODE SENTENCED FOR ASSAULTING PUPIL DURING SCHOOL TRIP IN PETERBOROUGH

In August 2019, a disturbing incident occurred involving Gary Speight, a 50-year-old teaching assistant from Whaplode, who was employed at The Phoenix School, a specialized educational institution in Peterborough. During a school-organized trip, Speight was entrusted with the responsibility of supervising a group of young students, many of whom had significant educational and physical needs. However, what transpired on the minibus was a serious breach of trust and a violation of the vulnerable pupil's safety.

According to court proceedings, Speight assaulted one of the young boys during the journey. The incident involved him bending the child's fingers backward and physically restraining his arm behind his seat in a lock. The situation escalated further when Speight brandished an insulin pen, pressing it against the boy’s leg and making a threatening remark, saying, “if this had a needle, you’d be asleep.” The young pupil, who was unable to shout for help due to his condition, was subjected to these assaults while other teachers on the bus observed the events and subsequently reported them.

Speight denied the allegations, claiming that the teachers had fabricated the story. Despite his denial, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of common assault during a trial held last month. On the day of sentencing, Speight appeared before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, where District Judge Ken Sheraton sentenced him to ten weeks in prison. Throughout the hearing, Speight appeared visibly distressed, trembling and crying in the dock. Court staff had to provide him with a tissue to wipe away his tears as the case was outlined by prosecutor Charles Corbett.

Mr. Corbett detailed the sequence of events, explaining that the victim was seated in front of Speight on the minibus. He described how the boy initially reached behind himself to pinch Speight’s leg, prompting Speight to grab the boy’s arm and twist it into a lock. Moments later, the boy again reached behind to pinch the defendant’s leg, which led Speight to seize his wrist and bend his fingers back. Witnesses, including other teachers, observed the boy rubbing his wrist and showing signs of distress. The situation worsened when the boy reached behind him once more, at which point Speight pulled out an insulin pen from his bag, pressed it against the boy’s leg, and made the threatening comment about the needle.

The court also heard a statement from the boy’s mother, who expressed the profound impact the incident had on her family. She stated that her son’s behavior had changed significantly since the assault, becoming more detached and distressed, often requiring physical reassurance. She added that her son’s episodes of distress could lead to self-harm and harm to others, and that the incident had caused considerable anxiety within their household.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Judge Sheraton ordered Speight to pay £250 in compensation to the victim. The judge emphasized that the offense represented a serious breach of trust, especially given the vulnerability of the young boy involved. As Speight was led away to serve his sentence, he blew a kiss to his wife, who was present in the courtroom gallery. The judge noted that because Speight continued to deny the charges, there was no basis for suspending the sentence, underscoring the gravity of the misconduct committed by the defendant in a position of care and responsibility.