Love rival cleared of harassment charge

Dawn Maymand, who teaches at Chase Terrace Technology College, denied one count of harassing Lynsey Lloyd after she started a relationship with her husband Stephen following their split in February this year, Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court heard.

Mrs Maymand, of Kewstoke Road, Willenhall, was accused of entering Ms Lloyd's home without permission, leaving tacks on her driveway and driving past her house slowly on a number of occasions between April and June this year.

But magistrates cleared her of any offence after hearing there was not enough evidence presented by the prosecution.

During a day-long trial, Ms Lloyd said she had started a relationship with Mr Maymand, who is a West Midlands Police officer, in April.

Ms Lloyd, a former teacher at Beacon Primary School in Willenhall, claimed the harassment began when Mr Maymand informed his wife that he would be taking their children to her house for dinner.

The court heard that in an attempt to find out where her children would be if they were to visit Lloyd's house again, Mrs Maymand had asked for the address, before driving slowly past the property later that night.

Ms Lloyd also claimed that she was left 'completely shocked' when Mrs Maymand had visited her house a few days later, walking in without permission when the door was opened slightly for her.

She claimed that Mrs Maymand had accused her of having an 'inappropriate relationship with her husband' before becoming frustrated when Ms Lloyd said they were just friends.

On another occasion, the court heard Ms Lloyd believed Mrs Maymand left a number of tacks on her drive while checking to see if her husband had been living at the property.

Mrs Maymand said that she had 'no explanation' of why the tacks were there, insisting that it had not been down to her.

Ms Lloyd, who now teaches at another school, taught the Maymands' daughters until they were removed from Beacon primary by their mother, Mr John Walker, defending said.

"She took her children out of the school, meaning she didn't have to go there anymore," Mr Walker said.

"Is that the action of somebody who wants to harass another person?

"The children would presumably have been happy at the school so it would not have been easy for her to do that.

"My client has given perfectly reasonable explanations for each incident that has been put to the court."

When delivering the final verdict, chairman of the magistrates bench, Mr David Firman, said:"We do not believe that the prosecution had proof beyond reasonable doubt that, for example, the defendant had put tacks on this persons drive.

"We believe Mrs Maymand's conduct did not cross the legal boundary's for us to find her guilty."