A TEACHER, who faced charges of racially aggravated harassment and intimidation, says her career is in tatters despite being acquitted.

Geraldine O’Connell, 46, of Caerleon, says she was asked to leave her supply teaching job at Lewis School, Pengam, when she returned to work after the charges against her were dropped on June 24.

Judge Helen Mifflin directed the jury in her trial to find her not guilty of two charges relating to alleged racial abuse towards her neighbour Suzi Ahmed last summer because she said Miss Ahmed’s evidence was inconsistent and did not match that of other witnesses.

Ms Connell said she was ecstatic at the outcome but was devastated when she was asked to leave her job the next day because the school felt she had misled them by not telling them about the trial.

Ms Connell admitted she told the school she had job interviews on the two days she was in court but said she had no legal obligation to tell them because the matter did not relate to her role as a teacher.

She said: “I was under the impression it was innocent until proven guilty, they did not give me that chance.”

The design technology teacher said she was dealt another blow when the school also withdrew her application for a job interview for the role of curriculum leader.

She said: “On Thursday we had a little party, everyone was celebrating and I came home devastated on Friday. Not only had a lost the job I loved but I lost my interview.

“There was no empathy at all.”

The former beauty therapist said she worked hard for the two terms she worked at the school and could not believe the way she has been treated.

She said: “It was outside of school, you do not have to disclose everything to the school and I am only a supply teacher.”

Out of work three weeks before the end of the school year without pay, the mum-of-two phoned her teaching agency ERN Meridian but claims it too told her it would not be offering her any more work.

She has made an official complaint to the company on its handling of the matter.

Teacher didn't have to tell agency of case

ERN Meridian said they were dealing with a complaint from Ms O’Connell but did not want to comment further.

A spokeswoman for the company did confirm however that Ms O’Connell did not have any obligation to tell the company about her court case.

Lewis School headteacher Chris Howard, said Ms O’Connell was told the school no longer needed her services because she did not inform them of the real reason for her absence on the days she was in court.