A BOY launched a ‘sustained’ assault on a schoolteacher, punching her to the ground before landing more blows, a youth court was told.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted throwing a book at the teacher before punching her ‘two or three’ times as she lost conscious-ness.

He was spared a custodial sentence by magistrates in Burnley Youth Court but was given a six-month referral order to work with the youth offending team. The court heard how the teacher noticed one of her teaching assistants ‘having problems’ with the boy during some tasks she had set during her lesson.

When the teacher told the boy to complete the tasks, he swore at her and threw a textbook at her. She asked him to leave the room because of his behaviour.

At this point the boy walked up to the teacher and punched her on the left eye with his right fist, then again on the side of her face.

When she fell to the floor, he continued punching her and she lost consciousness.

The teacher suffered a cut and bruising to her head, loosened teeth and a swollen face which required hospital treatment.

Two teaching assistants and a number of other pupils witnessed the incident, which took place at around 1.30pm on November 6 at one of Burnley’s superschools. We cannot name the school for legal reasons.

The boy was arrested later that day and has since been expelled from the school.

He admitted the section 47 assault in an interview with police and blamed his behaviour on a lengthy period of verbal bullying he had been subjected to by other students.

The boy’s defence team said he had admitted responsibility from the outset and that he knew his actions were wrong, and he was on the waiting list for psychological help.

They also explained how the boy’s father had been to visit the teacher and her family to apologise on his son’s behalf.

In sentencing, the magistrates said they had taken into account that the attack was ‘out of character’ and told him to ‘start afresh’.

They said: “This was a particularly nasty and sustained assault. You knew it was wrong and that the way you went about dealing with your problems was not right.

“I hope this is the last we see of you in court. It has been very upsetting for your parents and has brought shame on your family. Let’s start afresh.

“You have put this teacher in fear and she may not continue teaching.

“I hope you can turn your life around.”

The boy’s father must pay compensation and costs to the victim totalling £115.