David Johnson is alleged to have kicked a classroom door shut

David Johnson is alleged to have kicked a classroom door shut during a lesson, trapping his hand.

The 59-year-old denied assault causing actual bodily harm at Durham Crown Court.

Richard Cowen, prosecuting, said it was not alleged that Mr Johnson, of Elwick Avenue, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, intended to hurt the pupil.

However, he said it was up to the jury to decide whether or not Mr Johnson, who works at a County Durham secondary school, was negligent or reckless.

Mr Cowen said the incident happened after some pupils came to the door to ask if the boy could go to see another teacher.

He got up to leave, ignoring Mr Johnson’s requests to sit down, and went to the open door to talk to those outside.

The boy, who said his finger is still disfigured, told the court: “I requested to see if I could leave the classroom, and the answer was no, so I got up off my seat and went over and leaned on the door frame.

“I asked the two people who wanted me. I turned round with my hand still on the door to ask if I could leave the classroom, and at that point Mr Johnson kicked the door.”

He accepted he ignored several requests to sit down, but said he did not hear Mr Johnson ask him to move before the kick, which was so powerful a clock on an adjoining wall fell down. Paul Cross, for Mr Johnson, said the boy appeared to move out of the way when Mr Johnson told him to move.

A girl of 15 described the boy as annoying and said she heard Mr Johnson tell him to move his head from the doorway. She said: “He gets wrong all the time and he does not do what he is told.”

The trial continues.