A FATHER punched a headteacher in the face, a court heard yesterday.

Peterlee magistrates, in County Durham, heard that John Wilkinson, 27, fractured a bone in the left side of Michael Carter's face with a single blow.

He went to see Mr Carter, headteacher of Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, in Horden, County Durham, last November 21 over an alleged incident at the school.

Wilkinson, of Thorpe Crescent, in Horden, had already informed the police of the incident, but resolved to confront Mr Carter, and arrived at the school at about 8.30am.

He waited for five to ten minutes before being shown into the staff room, where he challenged Mr Carter.

Tony Southwick, defending, said the headteacher's alleged dismissive attitude caused him to lose his temper.

"The way he seemed to be dismissing Mr Wilkinson without addressing the issue was what finally made Mr Wilkinson snap," he said.

"He struck one blow and immediately on striking that one blow, realised that what he had done was wrong."

Mr Southwick said his client was under pressure after recently losing his job.

After investigating an allegation by Wilkinson and a subsequent complaint by Mr Carter, police charged Wilkinson with grievous bodily harm and yesterday he pleaded guilty.

They took no action against Mr Carter.

Yesterday, Wilkinson was granted conditional bail to appear at Durham Crown Court.