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A school dinner lady who has worked at an east Hull school for 28 years says she has been sacked over claims she threatened to attack two pupils.

Janet Parker says she was called into a meeting on Thursday to be told she was relieved of her duties over claims she threatened two children by saying: “I’m going to smash your face in”. Mrs Parker strongly denies the allegations.

It comes after an "incident" which she says took place on January 23 at Craven Primary School. She said: "I was accused of saying something nasty, which was 'I'm going to smash your face in.'

“There was no way I would say that to a child," said Mrs Parker. "I even know the family. I can’t understand why they’ve done this.

A spokesperson for Delta Academies Trust, which runs Craven Primary School, confirmed Mrs Parker has been dismissed following a "full and proper investigation".

They said "overwhelming" evidence, including CCTV footage, supported their decision. Mrs Parker said she had seen the footage, which has no sound, and says while she did walk up to and speak to the children, she strongly denies saying "I'm going to smash your face in."

The 56-year-old, of east Hull, says following yesterday's meeting she “had to be escorted off the premises” after the meeting at Craven Primary School in New Bridge Road on Thursday morning.

"I feel heartbroken and so upset about it," said Mrs Parker, who started working at the academy in 1990. "I just don't know what to do now because I've worked there for so long.

"I just don't know what to do because I've worked there for 28 years and for them to do this to me I just think I have been working there and it's just been a waste.

"I've got five grandchildren and I wouldn't dream of saying anything like that to them so why would I say it to somebody elses."

Mrs Parker said the school had sacked her over "health and safety issues", and over allegations of "gross misconduct".

“I’m really upset about it at the moment," she said. “Because of the health and safety issues, they’ve sacked me because of gross misconduct.

“I had some allegations against me saying I said ‘I’ll smash your face in’ to a child.”

Mrs Parker’s mother, Naomi Laidlaw, has been standing by her daughter since the allegation emerged three weeks ago.

“I’m disgusted," she said. "She’s not that sort of person. Anyone you speak to would say that’s not Janet. On my life, I know she didn’t say that.

“A lot of the children (former pupils) are friends with her on Facebook. They wouldn’t be friends if she did that."

A spokesperson for Delta Academies Trust said: “We can confirm that a member of staff was dismissed for gross misconduct.

“Parents know safeguarding is the top priority in all our academies. Where this is compromised, we will act in the best interests of the children in our care.

“We have conducted a full and proper investigation. The wide range of evidence, which included CCTV footage, was overwhelming.”

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