PERTH MUM OUTRAGED AS PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHING ASSISTANT WHO ASSAULTED HER DAUGHTER GIVEN WARNING
A mum whose daughter was assaulted by a Perth primary school teaching assistant says she is outraged after the woman was given a warning.Suzanne Lees, 54, was charged by police last August in the wake of an incident at a school, which cannot be named for legal reasons.
The youngster’s mum – who claims she has been “failed by everyone”, including Perth and Kinross Council – says the teaching assistant pulled her child’s hair.
However, she received a letter at the end of January from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) revealing Lees had been issued a formal written warning and will not face a criminal conviction.
‘Entire system is against us’ The correspondence, seen by The Courier, reads: “The case has now been assessed by experienced senior lawyers.
“After a careful review of all the available evidence, the Crown has decided that the public interest in the case is best served by issuing a warning letter to the accused.” The schoolgirl’s mum told us she is “highly disappointed” by the outcome.
“Everyone has failed my child and our family,” she said.
“The last few months have been awful for us, and the lack of communication from Perth and Kinross Council has only made things worse.
“It feels like the entire system is built against us, and the lack of accountability is a complete joke.” She also claims it took staff at the school four days to fully inform her of the incident and that the teaching assistant is still employed by the council.
The mum said: “This woman has been charged with physically assaulting a child but has essentially got away with it – it’s outrageous.” ‘Alternative to prosecution’ A warning would only appear on a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme certificate if a chief constable considered it appropriate to include.
Teaching assistants are not regulated, meaning Lees will not be subject to a misconduct probe by the General Teaching Council.
A Police Scotland spokesperson told The Courier: “A woman has been charged in connection with the assault of a child in Perth on Thursday, 21 August, 2025.
“ A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service added: “The Procurator Fiscal received a report concerning a 54-year-old woman, in connection with an alleged incident on 21 August 2025.
“After full and careful consideration of all facts and circumstances, the case was dealt with by way of an offer of an alternative to prosecution.” The Courier has attempted to contact Lees for comment.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on individual pupils or members of staff.
“However, headteachers or other professionals contact parents and carers and initiate child protection procedures immediately when made aware of any incident involving the safety or well-being of any pupil.
“We take the concerns of parents and carers extremely seriously and always seek to ensure they are kept informed and up-to-date on investigations pertaining to incidents involving their children in a sensitive and timely manner.”
