ANNE Lakey’s downfall from teaching ‘stardom’ came abruptly after three decades in the profession due to a late night email sent to one of the schools under her leadership.

Hailed as “an inspiring leader”, she earned a glowing reputation as, “a visionary”, turning round previously failing schools.

But a posting on a website for one of the amalgamated schools she oversaw, as the pioneering Durham Federation, triggered her eventual fall from grace.

As one of her victims was looking for a play group placement for his own child he came upon the image of Lakey, proclaiming that part of her “raison d’etre” was to give young people, “the best start in life.”

Giving evidence at Lakey’s first trial, at Durham Crown Court in June last year, he said: “I was resentful that she was on the internet making out to be so good and so brilliant, knowing what she was like and what she had done, it was just rubbish.”

He sent an email to the school, describing her as “a monster” who should never be allowed near children, timed 10.42pm on December 2, 2012.

When seen by school staff the following morning it led to her swift suspension, pending investigation, which now, two-and-a-half years later, following two lengthy trials, has culminated in her conviction.

Born in December 1959, she was brought up in Stanley, before going on to study at Sheffield University, and, following graduation, entered the teaching profession in Mansfield, in 1982.

She moved to a school in Huddersfield, before returning to the North-East after being appointed head of history at Sandhill View School, in Sunderland, in the spring of 1988, moving back to live in the Stanley area.

She applied for, and achieved, her first headship, at Deerness Valley School, in Ushaw Moor, in 2001, and it later became Durham Community Business College (DCBC).

Several years later she was asked to also take over Fyndoune Community College, at Sacriston, in a merger with DCBC to become Durham Federation of Schools.

Formed in 2006, it amalgamated two once failing schools as a pioneer in vocational education.

Fyndoune was named among the most improved state secondary schools in the country for three successive years.

It led to her appointment to the National Leaders of Education, a body created to transform struggling schools, and Sir Michael Wilshaw, HM Chief Inspector of Education, hailed her, “inspiring leadership”.

Her, apparent, unstoppable success story came to an abrupt halt, however, with the fateful email of December 2, 2012.