I love my pupils, says Smethwick teacher in 'ruler attack' case

Rina Khan, 41, is accused of losing her temper and lashing out at the defenceless child in class and calling him a 'muppet' for getting a question wrong.

Khan, of Smethwick, denies a charge of child cruelty and common assault.

And yesterday the full-time teacher for two-and-a-half-years told Birmingham Crown Court she had never mistreated pupils.

She said: "I was teaching a Maths lesson on March 20 to a class of about 28 children.

"On that day, the boy was being really quite disruptive with the pupils next to him.

"He kept poking a sharp pencil into their arms and he was really reluctant to do his own work.

"I warned him I would move him away from his table if he carried on or keep him back at break-time.

"He kept doing the same thing.

"The pencil was quite sharp. It was going to hurt the girl. She was really trying so hard to work.

"I had a ruler in my hand at that time because I was drawing lines for a pupil and I turned around and simply tapped him on the head.

"The ruler broke. I was really really shocked by that.

"I was thinking 'how did that happen?'

"I don't think I used any force. It was just a tap."

Khan said the rulers had been known to break at the school.

"I was so alarmed. I asked him if he hurt myself," she said.

"He said 'yes, yes Mrs Khan, I am OK'.

"I was very confused as to how that ruler broke.

"I checked his head for any bruises or bumps. There weren't any. I offered to get medical assistance but he was OK.

"I did not hit him. If I had hit him, the children would have been frightened. They were not frightened.

"The children would have told their parents. Someone would have been told.

"I did not hit him. I tapped him on the head. I did not hit him.

"I do not tell lies."

The case continues.