School support worker stalked colleague

Mark James Goodenough bombarded his victim with phone calls, texts and home visits, changing his shifts to co-incide with hers and even leaving a pupil unattended, Newbury magistrates heard.
Priors Court is an independent special school for children and young people with autism aged from five to 19 years.
The 38-year-old, of Porter End, Newbury, initially denied harassing Georgina Collins but changed his plea on the day of the scheduled trial.
Sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, October 16, when prosecutor Helen Gambrill read a victim impact statement from Ms Collins, who lives at Hutton Close, Newbury.
She said that, although she begged Mr Goodenough to leave her alone, he phoned repeatedly, knocking on her door and sending almost 100 text messages.
Her statement added: “I want the court to know how this affected me - it was a daily occurence. I kept seeing him near my house...it felt like he was watching me. I feared he would get into the house when I was out...I was frightened of what he might do next. The more I ignored him, the worse he got.
“He showed signs of violence, kicking the door and making me terrified. When I got home he would be on the doorstep and would put his foot in the doorway. I was scared he would spiral out of control...I was terrified of going home.”
She added: “The work requires one-to-one contact with pupils - he has been attempting to talk with me and left a pupil unattended. He changed shifts to work alongside me - normally our shifts wouldn’t cross over except at handover. I stopped doing overtime and so I suffered financially.
“He tried to get my friends and superiors to orchestrate our breaks so he could speak to me. I booked leave just to get away from him. I have to drag myself in (to work). They’ve noticed the difference in me. I avoided going out. When I came home he was waiting for me. It caused a dip in my performance at work.”
Ms Collins finished by imploring the court for a restraining order and warning: “If he continues to be employed by the school, I will have to look for a new job.”
Mr Goodenough admitted harassment between March 21 and April 4 this year.
Mike Davis, defending, said his client and Ms Collins had a short relationship, adding: “There came a point when she said: ‘I’ve had enough.’ He didn’t get the message - he persisted. He accepts he should have got the message but there was no violence, or threat of violence. He doesn’t accept there was more than one visit to her home. Mr Goodenough has been suspended and faces disciplinary action after this sentencing exercise.”
Mr Goodenough said in a statement that, following an argument, he felt Ms Collins was sending “mixed messages” and added: “I sought only to resolve things between us...I accept, in hindsight, that I ought to have realised that what I was doing constituted harassment.”
Mr Goodenough was fined £345 and ordered to pay £300 costs with a statutory surcharge of £35.
A restraining order prohibits him from contacting Ms Collins, or from entering Hutton Close.
Presiding magistrate Sue Campbell said: “As both work at Priors Court, contact will be permitted during school hours and on school premises only where allowable and where necessary in order for school business to be conducted efficiently.”
Afterwards, director of Human resources at the Prior's Court Foundation, Marion Shannon, said: "This matter does not relate to children or young people at Prior’s Court. but involved members of staff at Prior’s Court. We took the matter very seriously as we do all matters involving the welfare of our staff.
"The member of staff was suspended pending the outcome of the court case. Prior’s Court will now undertake an internal investigation in accordance with our policies and procedures. The members of staff are being provided with support as needed whilst the matter is investigated."
She added: "Prior’s Court considers the welfare of the young people within its care and the staff working with them to be of paramount importance. We would like to emphasise that rigorous policies and procedures are in place, training is a priority for all staff regardless of their role and safer recruitment practices are strictly adhered to. "