Shoebury teacher sacked after assault conviction (From Southend Standard)

Shobeury High teacher Adam Hutchins dismissed after assault conviction

11:00am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Echo News By Emma Thomas

A TEACHER has been sacked after he was found guilty of attacking a married couple.

Adam Hutchins, who taught IT at Shoeburyness High School in Caulfield Road, was suspended after the attack on Deborah and Richard Burgess.

Hutchins, 34, was given a 120-hour community order at Southend Magistrates Court for two counts of assault by beating.

On March 31, he hit the husband and wife while at a comedy gig at the Bell pub, in Prince Avenue, Southend.

Hutchins, of Rochester Mews, Westcliff, denied the charges and the accusation he had Mrs Burgess in the stomach before hitting Mr Burgess on the arm at the end of the gig.

Prosecutors said he walked past Mrs Burgess while she was at the bar then struck her in the stomach - exacerbating a hernia scar. They said he then verbally abused Mr Burgess in the toilet before hitting him.

He was found guilty after a trial at Southend Magistrates Court.
The school suspended Hutchins, who also runs Akita judo clubs in Southend, Rayleigh and Barling Magna, as soon as it learnt of his convictions and he has now been dismissed following a hearing.

Mark Schofield, Shoeburyness High’s headteacher, released a statement from the school but refused to comment further.

He said: “The school has dealt with the matter under its school disciplinary procedure and this has now been concluded.”

On top of the unpaid work, Hutchins was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to both victims, along with £620 costs.