Today, Christopher Cooper, 37, pleaded guilty to threatening an 11-year-old boy who he claimed had made his two children's lives a living hell for a year

A father faces losing his job for confronting an 11-year-old bully who he claims made his children's lives a living hell for a year.

Christopher Cooper touched the hearts of thousands of people with a tear-jerking post on Facebook about how Millie, 11, and Braiden, 9, had their lives 'turned upside down' by bullies.

They were pushed, kicked, and others played a cruel game called 'ginger touch' in which anyone who touched his red-haired children would be shunned for the rest of the day.

Today, Cooper, 37, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the 11-year-old boy he blamed for the attacks.

He had originally denied a similar more serious offence of intent to cause distress, but was offered the lesser charge by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Cooper told Furness Magistrates, sitting in Barrow, Cumbria, that he changed his plea to avoid the victim and his own daughter from having to give evidence and be cross-examined.

He was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 costs and £20 victims' surcharge and issued with a restraint order forbidding him to make contact with the victim directly or through digital media.

After the case Cooper, who like his children has red hair, said he now faces a disciplinary hearing with the Nurses and Midwifery Council and could lose his job in Liverpool.

'I am fearful that I won't be able to continue my career,' he said.

But Cooper was defiant about the actions he took saying his priority as a parent was to protect his children, who he said suffered 'emotional and physical trauma'.

His son had been hospitalised with a broken wrist after an attack involving other children, and both were victims of verbal abuse.

He said his daughter had been pushed to the floor, kicked in the ribs and had her glasses broken.

But police said it was a school problem and the school said it was a police matter as the assaults took place outside the school gates.

In court, Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said the victim, who cannot be named, was met on his way to North Walney Primary school by Cooper and his daughter Millie blocking his way.

The victim asked her to move and Cooper confronted him about an incident in which she had been kicked. He denied being involved, but Cooper shouted at him and stuck his face close to his.

Cooper told the boy to go home, which he started to do despite being due in school that day.

Teachers and the school administrator, Edith Milligan, intervened. 'She was alarmed and ran over and saw Cooper shouting in an abusive way.

Cooper said he was at the end of his tether after police and the school failed to put an end to the ordeal for Millie, 11, and nine-year-old Braiden. Braiden had his wrist broken (pictured)

Millie (pictured on holiday) was pushed to the ground, kicked in the ribs and had her glasses broken by a bully during the year-long ordeal at the school

Parent Karen Smith said she saw Cooper and the boy having a heated conversation in which Cooper said 'there would be consequences if he touched his children again.'

In mitigation solicitor, Tristan Roberts, said Cooper, of Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, had been in difficult circumstances.

He believed neither the police nor the school were dealing with his complaints about behaviour in which his children were being injured.

'His children were coming home crying, angry and in one case needed hospital treatment. Cooper felt he was beating his head against a brick wall.

'What this defendant has done while feeling at the end of his tether, due to his feeling that there hadn't been any adequate dealing with his complaints, is, unfortunately, to take the matter into his own hands.'

'He was encouraging his daughter to stand up for herself. It appeared no one else was doing anything else to help.'

Cooper had changed his plea as he didn't want to put the boy victim or his own daughter in the position of appearing in court and giving evidence.

But Cooper had harsh words from District Judge Gerald Chalke who said: 'It is ironic that you were complaining about bullying when your own behaviour was clearly bullying.

'When an adult confronts a child to cause distress then that is bullying. You should have known better.'

But he added he took into account Cooper's previous good character and his decision to plead guilty.

Cooper told Furness Magistrates, sitting in Barrow, Cumbria, that he changed his plea to avoid the victim and his own daughter from having to give evidence and be cross-examined

Outside court, Cooper said that there had recently been a national anti-bullying day when celebrities encouraged people to confront bullies.

'But how can you confront bullies when you end up in court, getting a criminal conviction and possibly lose your job?'

He said the police were now investigating his complaints about his children being attacked.

Today Cumbria Police Superintendent Rob O'Connor said: 'This was a case that generated high profile interest following a post on social media.

'We are pleased with today's outcome and that Mr Cooper has admitted his guilt. This case demonstrates that sometimes, social media does not reflect the entire situation.

'We understand that Mr Cooper had his children's welfare as priority and that parents will sympathise with his desire to protect them.

'However, this case has shown that there is no excuse to take the law into your own hands. Cumbria Police will take seriously any such offence and thoroughly investigate the full circumstances to ensure that justice is done.'

Mr Cooper sparked a social media storm when he posted a heart-rending account of his children's year-long ordeal at the hands of the alleged bully. The Facebook post had 214,846 shares in a month.

He has now set up a page called Bikers against Bullies.

Mr Cooper sparked a social media storm when he posted a heart-rending account of his children's year-long ordeal at the hands of the alleged bully. The Facebook post had 214,846 shares in a month

They have also complained to Cumbria Council Local Education Authority about the conduct of North Walney Primary. They said the council has not replied.

North Walney Primary, Nursery and Pre-School earlier issued a statement through Cumbria County Council, which said:

'Bullying is not acceptable at North Walney Primary, Nursery and Pre-School and we fully accept that there have been a number of incidents involving Mr Cooper's children over the last six months and recognise the distress they have caused.

'But in responding to those incidents the safety and welfare of the children has always been our first priority, and as such, we do not recognise or accept the description of the school's actions. All incidents have been properly investigated and appropriate actions taken, ranging from whole class talks, workshops from the local police officer and changes to the school routine, through to specific child focussed action plans to prevent any further incidents.

'At all times we have kept Mr Cooper involved and aware of what was being done to support his children. Our understanding to date was that while he was understandably angry that incidents had occurred, he was satisfied with the actions of the school and the plans put in place, including a detailed plan discussed at the start of March.