Former Hinckley head teacher accused of attacking men

[dutchman]

Lawyers representing a former Hinckley head teacher accused of attacking three men with a pool cue at a Tile Hill pub have won the chance to secure extended CCTV footage of the alleged incident.



Troy Scrimshaw, ex-head of The Cedars special school, in Ashby Road, Hinckley, is accused of assaulting three men at the Bell Inn, Tile Hill village, Coventry, on July 10 last year.

Scrimshaw, 41, of Blandford Drive, Walsgrave, denies one charge of causing grievous bodily harm and two of causing actual bodily harm.

At a preliminary hearing at Coventry Crown Court yesterday, prosecutors revealed they had 60 seconds of footage from the pub, but proceedings were adjourned until February 24, to allow Scrimshaw’s lawyers to obtain footage of the preceding 20 minutes.

Scrimshaw was granted bail on condition he does not enter The Bell Inn.

Scrimshaw, who resigned from The Cedars after his arrest, now runs an education management firm, and is an armed force reservist.

[dutchman]

Coventry ex-school head in pub attack spared jail to serve with army in Afghanistan

A FORMER head of a special school who hit two men with a pool cue at a Coventry pub has been spared jail – because he is going to Afghanistan with the Army.

Troy Scrimshaw, of Blandford Drive, Walsgrave, appeared at Coventry Crown Court yesterday on two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

During the hearing, Recorder Andrew Mainds told Scrimshaw he faced an immediate custodial sentence for the premeditated attack.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace told the court Scrimshaw, 42, had been drinking with friends in the Bell Inn, in Tile Hill, in July 2010, when there was an altercation.

The court heard Scrimshaw had been accused by the group of attacking one of the men 12 years earlier when he worked as a bouncer and breaking his jaw.

Mr Wallace said Scrimshaw’s two friends later left. CCTV footage played in court showed that around midnight Scrimshaw grabbed a pool cue and hit two of the men to the head and face.

The court heard Scrimshaw resigned as head of The Cedars school in Hinckley – a privately-run special school for boys aged 11-16 with behavioural problems.

After his resignation, he set up an education management consultancy firm, but the court was told now has a full-time position as an ammunition technician with the 11th Regiment of Royal Logistics Corps as an ammunition technician, having served with the TA for five years.

In interview with police, Scrimshaw said he thought he was going to be attacked so acted in self-defence.

Mr Wallace added: “He said a red mist descended and he wasn’t going to be intimidated by the men. He admitted he made a split second wrong decision.”

Defending, Julian Harris said Scrimshaw admitted he could have left with his friends. He added: “He thought he was going to be assaulted and feared for his safety. For that reason he took the action that he took.”

Mr Harris told the court Scrimshaw was a married father-of-two and was due to go to Afghanistan for six months. He presented the judge with several references from the army describing the defendant as an “outstanding soldier.”

Hearing those, Recorder Mainds changed his mind and handed Scrimshaw an eight month sentence, suspended for 24 months.

He said: “Having seen the video of what happened it was clear an immediate custodial sentence was only proper. This attack was unjustified and quite wrong.

“However what really swung it for me was these references that speak so highly of you and say you are a decent, hard-working man.

“You are prepared to go to Afghanistan and contribute in a very difficult and troubling environment, and in those circumstances it would be wrong for me to bring your career in the army to an end.”

Scrimshaw was also told to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay £600 compensation to his two victims and £600 court costs.