Ex-photography teacher Julian Fawkes sentenced for assault on boy

A former college photography teacher has received a 12-month community order for assaulting a 13-year-old boy.

Julian Fawkes, 36, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, wrongly believed the boy had picked up his wallet after he drove away from a caravan site in Gwynedd.

He denied common assault, but was convicted after a trial at Caernarfon Magistrates' Court last month.

The court heard that Fawkes had lost his job at Birmingham Metropolitan College because of the conviction.

The 12-month community order comes with eight months supervision and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Fawkes must pay £100 compensation to the boy for an injury and the trauma he suffered, and £650 court costs.

Last month, the court heard that Fawkes thought he may have left his wallet on the top of his car as he drove away from the caravan site in Talybont, near Barmouth.

Magistrates were told that he then spotted the 13-year-old with a wallet, and approached him.

Fawkes insisted that he remained calm and polite, removed the wallet from the boy, and then returned it and apologised, shaking the teenager's hand.

However, finding him guilty, the court chairwoman said the boy and an adult eye witness gave consistent and credible evidence, and Fawkes used force which was "out of all proportion."

On Tuesday, Karen Mullin, prosecuting, said Fawkes pushed the youngster with force against a wall and grabbed the wallet to examine it. Ms Mullin said the boy was shocked and had a scratch and bruise to his back.

Richard Williams, defending, said Fawkes pleaded not guilty because he believed he was acting lawfully and that the boy had his wallet.

He had pinned the boy against a wall, and was sorry.

"He never set out to injure him," the Mr Williams added.