Local Council Spent £3,600 Following Sick-Leave Teacher

Local Council Spent £3,600 Following Sick-Leave Teacher

A local authority spent a whopping £3,600 on having a sick-leave teacher put under surveillance by private detectives.

Caerphilly Council had English teacher Kim Shaw trailed for three days after she went on stress-related leave following her suspension from Pontllanfriath Comprehensive School where she had taught for 28 years.

Astonishingly, Mrs Shaw says the council claimed she couldn't be stressed because she was seen 'wearing shoes with flowers on them'.

An employment tribunal in Cardiff heard that 56-year-old Mrs Shaw was suspended over allegations about 'irregularities' in her GCSE student coursework.

The Mail reports Mrs Shaw went on sick leave for stress-related conditions following the suspension, and was subsequently monitored by a private security team hired by Caerphilly Council.

The teacher told the tribunal: "They said I couldn't have been stressed because I was wearing shoes with flowers on them. They photographed me out shopping with my husband. I think they were looking for something to besmirch me with."

Mrs Shaw said the detectives 'even followed my husband to the Post Office'.

Her school head, Robert Davies, told the hearing he hadn't known about the surveillance until after it had happened, but admitted he had been asked to provide a photograph of Mrs Shaw to the local council.

Colin Adkins, of teachers' union NASUWT represented Mrs Shaw at the tribunal and compared the council and its actions to the secret East German police force, the Stasi.

The tribunal hearing continues.

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