Elliot Millar was given a job at Life Wirral Sports School without receiving any training
A sports coach who drew a penis on the face of a pupil at the school where he worked has been jailed. Elliot Millar slapped students and placed them into headlocks while working at Life Wirral Sports School in New Brighton.
He was said to have started working at the establishment only the day after an “informal” interview with the headteacher without receiving any training. A judge today called his actions “hideously inappropriate” and “nothing short of bullying”.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard this morning, Monday, that undercover reporter Sasha Hinde was employed as a member of staff at the independent school for pupils with special educational needs for seven weeks up until May 24 this year. Videos filmed by the journalist were subsequently aired as part of a BBC Panorama documentary, with the raw footage being passed on to Merseyside Police.
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Matthew Dixon, prosecuting, outlined how Millar was shown in one clip assaulting a pupil who was sat at a table using his laptop with his headphones in. The 21-year-old, of Bradman Close in Liscard, was seen “approaching from behind and slapping him on the neck”.
When the boy stood up, the member of staff “placed him in a headlock”. The student was left with a minor scratch to his neck, inflicted when he attempted to pull away from the hold.
In a second attack on the same victim, Millar feigned a punch and kick towards him. Then, on April 23, the defendant approached another boy from behind, pulled him backwards and drew a penis on his face.
He was said to have placed a pupil into a headlock on another occasion. Millar was also charged with assaulting Ms Hinde when the pair were together in the staff room, at which stage he began re-enacting an incident and “threw a punch in the reporter’s face, narrowly missing her and causing her to fear immediate violence”.
Footage of two of the attacks which occurred within the classroom was played to the court, with a woman described in court as “management” shown walking by as Millar drew the crude graffiti on his victim’s face. In a statement which was read to the court on their behalf, one of the boys’ families said: “Even though he was mistreated badly, he thought it was the norm.”
Anthony Nelson, defending, told the court: “Every parent, every child who entered Life School had a realistic expectation of their child being in professional, capable, caring hands. That was not the case from top to bottom.
“This sort of behaviour was endemic at the school, was prevalent at the school and was the norm at the school. It is totally outrageous and a local scandal. My client does not at all seek to excuse his conduct.
“He has issues with the loss of his fiancée. He is deeply remorseful. He has extremely intelligent and remorseful parents. They are heartbroken and I don’t think have had a night’s sleep since knowing of these matters.
“Mr Millar is vulnerable. He has ADHD himself and was utterly inappropriate to be cast in this role. He was interviewed by the principal very informally and started work the next day and had no training or guidance. It does not excuse his conduct, but perhaps explains it.
“None of these children did anything to encourage this type of activity. They were all utterly blameless. He is deeply remorseful. He has never been in trouble before. He has had a difficult two years. It doesn’t excuse his conduct. It is wholly a breach of trust and he accepts that.
“He has had a difficult time of it locally. He has had abuse, he has had threats. Of course, that is with the territory.”
Millar, who has no previous convictions, admitted four counts of assault and using threatening behaviour. Appearing in the dock wearing a black suit over a white shirt and grey tie, he was jailed for 12 weeks as his parents sat in tears in the public gallery.
Sentencing, District Judge James Hatton said: “This is a serious, but I accept unusual, case, because it was brought to light by an investigation by an undercover reporter. One can only speculate if that investigation had not occurred whether the behaviour demonstrated in this case may well have carried on unabated.
“You admitted the offences at the outset when you were interviewed by the police. I also take into account your age and relative immaturity.
“I have read numerous character references and a pre-sentence report which details your obvious remorse. It details your background, including your diagnosis of ADHD and how that has impacted at various stages of your life, and the difficulties you have had following the tragic and untimely death of your fiancée.
“I am less impressed by elements of your mitigation which, I believe, seek to apportion same of your behaviour to systemic and endemic behaviour which may have been present at the school. Your conduct was your responsibility.
“It would be obvious to anyone that your conduct was hideously inappropriate and nothing short of cruel bullying. There are a number of different assaults. You were clearly in a position of trust.
“One case involved you drawing a penis onto the face of a pupil. That involved gratuitous degradation of your victim. While I acknowledge your lack of convictions and positive reports about your usual character and conduct, these offences are so serious, and the aggravating features are so stark, that only by the imposition of immediate custody can I achieve appropriate punishment.”