Air gun teacher sacked by school

A teacher jailed for firing an air pistol to scare off "yobs" whom she claimed were harassing her family has been dismissed by her school for gross misconduct.

A teacher jailed for firing an air pistol to scare off "yobs" whom she claimed were harassing her family has been dismissed by her school for gross misconduct.

Linda Walker, 48, was sacked as a special-needs teacher after a four-hour disciplinary hearing.

Mrs Walker, a teacher at New Park High School in Eccles, Salford, a special school for children with behavioural problems, had been jailed for six months after she fired an air pistol near a gang of youths outside her home. She was convicted of affray and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear.

Mrs Walker served 36 days of her sentence before appeal judges quashed the prison term and she was released. But yesterday, Mrs Walker was dismissed after a meeting with the headmistress Almut Bever-Warren and officials from Salford education authority.

The hearing ruled she had breached professional standards of conduct and brought her school and the city council into disrepute.

Mrs Walker had been a teacher for 25 years and had no previous convictions. She immediately announced her intention to appeal. She is supported by her teachers' union, the NASUWT.