Mum Calls In Police After School Teacher Snips Off Daughter's Shoe Tags

Mum Calls In Police After School Teacher Snips Off Daughter's Shoe Tags

A mother called in the police after a teacher cut two designer labels off her daughter's shoes.

Claire Pamment claimed the teacher's actions amounted to criminal damage and assault and demanded police investigate.

The furore erupted after her daughter, Olivia Adams, 13, was told the green and red tags on her Kickers shoes broke an 'all-black' uniform rule at the North School in Ashford, Kent.

The teen said a staff member then knelt down and cut off the tags - while the shoes were on her feet.

Her mum complained to head teacher Lesley Ellis - who apologised and offered her £55 to buy a new pair. But Claire wasn't satisfied and complained to police.

The row has since escalated when Olivia was suspended for a week for naming the teacher on Facebook.

Mother-of-three Claire said: "I'm fuming. They cut the tabs off my daughter's shoes while they were still on her feet - I just can't believe it.

"They can't go around doing things like this. Who does this teacher think she is?

"This is not only criminal damage to my daughter's shoes, but it is assault because they shouldn't be touching her. They really are pushing the rules here. I spoke to the teacher who claims she was acting on the head's authority.

"But when I spoke to the head she said it had all been a mistake and that they will reimburse me.

"The school then wanted to send Olivia home until the issue was resolved but I don't want her missing any more lessons."

The school told Claire that Olivia had granted permission for the tags to be cut off - something her daughter denied.

The school has declined to comment but a Kent Police spokesman said: "We are reviewing a complaint of criminal damage on November 7."

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