Teacher Assault Trial
My hell is over, says cleared teacher
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| 'OUTSTANDING': David Rucker |
AN "outstanding" teacher who was found guilty of assaulting a pupil spoke last night of his relief after his conviction was quashed.
David Colin Rucker said he had been through 19 months of hell after a court ruling was overturned yesterday with an apology from a judge for his ordeal.
The 41-year-old father-of-two had been a model teacher until he remonstrated with misbehaving youths at a North Yorkshire swimming pool, and found himself facing a police investigation.
He told how after his conviction for assault last October:
* He was forced to quit his job and support his family on £50 a week;
* He ran up thousands of pounds of debt trying to clear his name;
* He had to pay his legal costs with money given to his wife to pay for treatment after a car accident;
* He felt abandoned by his union when he needed help the most.
Mr Rucker, a teacher with 15 years experience, was described as an outstanding tutor by Ofsted inspectors shortly before his nightmare began.
During the trial at Northallerton Magistrates' Court last year, the bench was told how trouble began when Mr Rucker was spotted by four youths as he relaxed at Richmond swimming pool.
The teenagers challenged him to a race. When the teacher won, they splashed him with water - which led to an altercation.
The court heard how Mr Rucker had been the fourth teacher at his school to have been accused of wrong-doing by children in the same year group.
Magistrates were also told that the school had expressed concerns about the racist attitude of one of the youths, and that he had been involved in a burglary.
After Mr Rucker was convicted of common assault at the end of the three-day trial, a parent of one of the youths expressed sympathy for his situation, saying: "I do feel bad for him. Terribly. Of course I do."
During yesterday's hearing at Teesside Crown Court, Mr Rucker's barrister, Deborah Sherwin, described the case as "unusual".
She said: "It's a strange case - curious that it was ever brought in the first place.
"He was a teacher who was off duty at a swimming pool and saw some boys had been misbehaving.
"There was some sort of altercation, which ended up with him being convicted of common assault. I want to ask that the conviction is annulled."
Because the case was not contested, a retrial was not required.
In quashing the conviction, the court recorder said: "We obviously allow the appeal. I am sorry, Mr Rucker, that you have been through all this."
Speaking afterwards, Mr Rucker said: "At last justice has been done. I did not do what I was accused of.
"The past 19 months have been an absolute nightmare and I'm relieved this is finally over.
"What has happened to me is commonplace in the teaching trade. There are numerous teachers who have been in my position.
"There is a serious lack of support when subjected to false allegations. We want to get on to the business of rebuilding out lives.
"I now want to start getting back into teaching where I have spent the past 15 years training and working."
Since September 2006, he has lived on about £50 a week after he was forced to leave his job when it had become "untenable" because of the allegations.
He has incurred considerable costs in fighting to clear his name - an estimated £6,000 or £7,000.
The only way he could meet the costs was to use money given to his wife to pay for life-long treatment after she was involved in a car accident.
Mr Rucker claimed he received no support from his teaching union when he needed its help.
A spokeswoman from the National Union of Teachers said: "We constantly monitor the situation to ensure teachers, when innocent, do not become the victims."
The Northern Echo understands that Mr Rucker made a complaint against North Yorkshire Police about the conduct of two officers handling his case. A report in support of the complaint was delivered yesterday.
5:02am Saturday 19th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Anon, Richmond on 9:08am Sat 19 Jan 08
Congratulations Mr Rucker i meet you once before and you told me and my family your predicament, we believed you then and we were all in disbelief when we heard the last court outcome. I am so happy for you and your family and hopefully you can all put this terrible episode behind you and start a fresh.
New year new start.
Congratulations Mr Rucker i meet you once before and you told me and my family your predicament, we believed you then and we were all in disbelief when we heard the last court outcome. I am so happy for you and your family and hopefully you can all put this terrible episode behind you and start a fresh.
New year new start.
Posted by: davebr, Middlesbrough on 11:13am Sat 19 Jan 08
Now that Mr Rucker's conviction has been quashed, is it now time for the youths who made false accusations to be charged?
Now that Mr Rucker's conviction has been quashed, is it now time for the youths who made false accusations to be charged?
Posted by: Sarah L, Richmond on 9:16pm Sat 19 Jan 08
Totally agree with dave, there are too many cases like this these days. Why is it always the professional that is charged and ends up losing their reputation and job and not the youths? No wonder the government has to advertise for teachers!
Totally agree with dave, there are too many cases like this these days. Why is it always the professional that is charged and ends up losing their reputation and job and not the youths? No wonder the government has to advertise for teachers!
Posted by: Chris, Darlington on 1:22am Mon 21 Jan 08
I also agree that the youths in question need to be called to order... the only thing I am against is the mention that he had to support his family on 50 pounds per week - something hundreds/thousands of families do up and down the country.
I also agree that the youths in question need to be called to order... the only thing I am against is the mention that he had to support his family on 50 pounds per week - something hundreds/thousands of families do up and down the country.
Posted by: M Daly, USA on 2:50am Mon 21 Jan 08
Theodore Dalrymple has an excellent explanation of what has gone wrong in England & New Zealand as well as American. See his book [bold]Life at the Bottom[/bold]; "Policemen in Wonderland" pg 230"...the police (are) demonstrating to a liberal constituency that they (do not) automatically side with the respectable... against the socially excluded"
Theodore Dalrymple has an excellent explanation of what has gone wrong in England & New Zealand as well as American. See his book
Life at the Bottom; "Policemen in Wonderland" pg 230"...the police (are) demonstrating to a liberal constituency that they (do not) automatically side with the respectable... against the socially excluded"
Posted by: J Marsh, Huddersfield on 9:53am Mon 21 Jan 08
Congratulations to David Rucker - I know how , if not worse, not many years ago but I wouldn't hold out any hope of satisfaction through the police complaints procedures - I complained about the investigatimg officer handling my case because of a refusal to follow up leads, "losing" documentary ecvidence which would have killed the allegations stone dead and even falsifying evidence - the two inspectors who should have been investigating my complaint refused to even look at the file of evidence I had gathered and called me a nasty vindictive individual because I had dared make my complaint - needless to say the police closed ranks and nothing was ever done - the officer concerned had been involved in similar cases concerning false allegations against teachers with similar "investigation" methods - that officer was soon promoted rather than disciplined - dishonesty being rewarded in our "wonderful" police force.
Congratulations to David Rucker - I know how , if not worse, not many years ago but I wouldn't hold out any hope of satisfaction through the police complaints procedures - I complained about the investigatimg officer handling my case because of a refusal to follow up leads, "losing" documentary ecvidence which would have killed the allegations stone dead and even falsifying evidence - the two inspectors who should have been investigating my complaint refused to even look at the file of evidence I had gathered and called me a nasty vindictive individual because I had dared make my complaint - needless to say the police closed ranks and nothing was ever done - the officer concerned had been involved in similar cases concerning false allegations against teachers with similar "investigation" methods - that officer was soon promoted rather than disciplined - dishonesty being rewarded in our "wonderful" police force.
Posted by: Lynn on 7:38pm Mon 21 Jan 08
well done eventually justice was done - shame you and your family were put through all of this - when do the youths get done for wasting police time and waste of public money?
well done eventually justice was done - shame you and your family were put through all of this - when do the youths get done for wasting police time and waste of public money?
Posted by: CB, DARLO on 1:21am Fri 8 Feb 08
I can't believe what I'm reading! This 'Adult'resorted to violence because a few kids were splashing water at him?? and its 'OK?" there must have been enough independant evidence to bring this trial to court - it was in a public place so people saw what happened. Young kids being 'naughty' - yeh kids - grown man going off on one cos he got splashed with water - he should be punished - get him beaten up by someone bigger and stronger than him - see if he likes it-him being a teacher is irrelevant -he needs anger management counselling. As for 'living on 50 quid -what a load of rubbish!-If his wife is'nt earning and he has two kids he would get all sorts of benefits - if his wife is earning then he's hardly living on 50 quid is he???????
I can't believe what I'm reading! This 'Adult'resorted to violence because a few kids were splashing water at him?? and its 'OK?" there must have been enough independant evidence to bring this trial to court - it was in a public place so people saw what happened. Young kids being 'naughty' - yeh kids - grown man going off on one cos he got splashed with water - he should be punished - get him beaten up by someone bigger and stronger than him - see if he likes it-him being a teacher is irrelevant -he needs anger management counselling. As for 'living on 50 quid -what a load of rubbish!-If his wife is'nt earning and he has two kids he would get all sorts of benefits - if his wife is earning then he's hardly living on 50 quid is he???????
Posted by: social worker, London on 12:16am Sat 22 Mar 08
What a shame he has got off. As social workers we always work carefully with the police to try and stitch up as many adults as possible, especially teachers. It is a nightmare when the courts get in our way. This only proves that we always know best and all other adults are paedophiles who should not be allowed near children.
What a shame he has got off. As social workers we always work carefully with the police to try and stitch up as many adults as possible, especially teachers. It is a nightmare when the courts get in our way. This only proves that we always know best and all other adults are paedophiles who should not be allowed near children.
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