A group of 12-year-olds concocted a classroom attack to disgrace a teacher of 32 years experience, a court heard yesterday.

A pupil gave evidence that Ron Harbottle, 56, grabbed him by the neck, pushed him four or five times against the wall, a slapped his face.

But the court was told the boy and his friends made up the story saying:

"Let's get Harbottle."

The alleged incident took place at a school in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, where Mr Harbottle had worked for 32 years.

The court heard he had a reputation for being strict, but even his accuser accepted before the court the he was a good teacher.

The alleged attack happened on November 3 2003 during a science lesson on the solar system in the school's newly equipped computer room.

Mr Harbottle claims the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and a girl in the class, were play fighting and the he delivered a stern telling off, wagging his finger.

However, the boy told Consett Magistrates Court of a much more serious incident.

He said: "A girl reached over and nipped me on the back of my hand. We were not play fighting, I don't know why she did it.

"I shouted, 'Oww!' and Mr Harbottle came across the room to where I was sitting.

"He grabbed me by my shirt and jumper at the back of my neck and pulled me up.

"He pushed me four or five times against the wall using one finger and then two fingers. My back hit the wall.

"Then he slapped me on my right cheek with the flat front of his hand."

The boy said a girl in the class told him she would be a police witness straight after the alleged assault, but Nick Cartmell, defending, told the court there was no pushing, no slap and nothing worse than a telling off.

During cross examination he said to the boy: "There was a waving of a finger and a severe telling off for fighting in Mr Harbottle's class and it may be that a finger contacted your shoulder. "But it was incidental to the finger wagging, there was no deliberate prodding and there certainly was no slap. Isn't that the case?"

The boy replied: "No."

Mr Cartmell continued: "You and your friends were suggesting 'let's get Harbottle, let's get him kicked out, let's get him done. We could say he pushed you against the wall.' Did you have that discussion?"

The boy again replied: "No."

Mr Cartmell went on: "I suggest there was a deliberate plot between four or five of you to have a perfectly decent teacher with over 30 years experience, drummed out of school."

The boy again denied this allegation.

Mr Harbottle, of Killingworth, North Tyneside, denies common assault. The trial before district judge Michael Wood, is expected to last five days.