Facebook-row Hull teacher admits sending ‘annoying’ post

Nyanza Roberts, 25, pleaded guilty to a charge of persistently making use of an electronic communications network for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety at a hearing in Hull.

Miss Roberts quit her job last year at Westcott Primary School, in east Hull, after a row over insulting remarks made on Facebook.

Debbie Johnson, 48, who was headteacher at the school and shares the same address in Western Gailes Way, in east Hull, pleaded not guilty to the same charge. She is due to stand trial in August.

Lindsay Kirk, defending Miss Johnson, said her client denied the charge, relating to dates between February 14 and February 16 this year, adding: “It was actually Miss Roberts who was responsible.” The court was told Miss Roberts is due to be the single defence witness in the case.

The two teachers made headlines last autumn after print-outs of an apparent conversation on the social networking site appeared on lampposts and were put through letterboxes. Miss Roberts was the first to be suspended after branding locals “thick” and “inbred” in the chat, which involved Ms Johnson and other staff.

It was announced last December Miss Roberts and Ms Johnson had “relinquished their posts” after an investigation, the result of which was not made public. Miss Roberts will be sentenced after the trial. District Judge Fred Rutherford granted the pair unconditional bail.

Miss Roberts declined to comment following the magistrates court hearing.