A HEADTEACHER was "paralysed with fear" when she was assaulted by the father of a member of staff, a court heard.

Trevor Collishaw grabbed Maxine Barwick by the throat and pinned her to the desk in her office, before being restrained.

Collishaw admitted assaulting Mrs Barwick on July 1 when he appeared before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, yesterday.

The court heard that the 59-year-old had barged past staff at Elmfield Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, looking for his daughter who is a teacher there.

He eventually agreed to go with Mrs Barwick to her office, where he closed the door behind him.

Peter Smith, prosecuting, said: "She went to open the door and Mr Collishaw lunged at her, grabbing her by the throat.

"He pushed her backwards over the desk so that she was pinned to the top of the desk."

"Because of the tightness of the grip, Mrs Barwick couldn't speak, she was scared and was paralysed with fear."

Mrs Barwick shouted for a colleague, who pulled Collishaw off her and calmed him down. But when he saw Mrs Barwick outside the office he whispered abuse at her.

In a police interview, Collishaw admitted losing control, acknowledged he was wrong and apologised for his actions.

Lynne Simpson, mitigating, said Collishaw's wife had received a call from her daughter, who was "extremely upset".

Collishaw was so concerned for her welfare he went straight to the school.

Mrs Simpson said Collishaw had a number of mental health problems and had suffered a breakdown ten years ago, after which he spent 18 months as a day patient at a psychiatric ward in Darlington Memorial Hospital.

She said many of his problems had stemmed from being bullied at work and added: "He saw his daughter having similar problems in her employment and, being a protective father, he simply flipped."

Mrs Simpson said that as a result of the incident, her client had decided to seek further treatment.

Collishaw, of Beechside in Staindrop, was given a conditional discharge for one year. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation to Mrs Barwick, plus £110 prosecution costs.