Teacher branded ‘Islamaphobic' and SACKED after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as ‘two-tier policing'
Simon Pearson taught English to foreign language students at Preston College in Lancashire.
4
4
4
The 56-year-old was removed following an internal investigation after posting about Connolly - who was handed a 31-month sentence for inciting racial hatred in a social media post following last year's Southport riots.
Simon described Connolly's post as "obviously wrong" but went on to say her imprisonment was "two tier policy from the top down".
He was dismissed after a complaint from a Muslim rep of the NEU accused him of being 'Islamophobic' and 'racially discriminatory'.
The teacher said he apologised and claimed to have provided evidence of his support for both Muslim students and asylum seekers.
But it was found that the posts were a violation of the college's policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute.
Simon has now started legal action, which has been filed at an employment tribunal, with claims of wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
He told The Telegraph: 'I am appalled by the way I've been treated. I've dedicated my life to education and to supporting students from all walks of life.
'Yet as soon as I was branded 'Islamophobic' for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man.
"It was clear that I had to be found guilty by the college, it became a witch hunt, and I had to be eliminated no matter what.'
Lucy Connolly, 41, was sent to prison for 31 months in October after being found guilty of inciting racial hatred.
She will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term, The Sun understands.
Her tweet, which was viewed more than 300,000 times before she deleted it, said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f* hotels full of the b** for all I care… if that makes me racist so be it.'
It had been prompted by false rumours that the suspect behind the murder of three girls at a dance class in Southport was an illegal immigrant.
Connolly, from Northampton, the wife of a former Tory councillor, lost an appeal to reduce her sentence in May.
Nigel Farage has previously called for her release and called her jail term 'absolutely excessive'.
But Sir Keir Starmer has defended the sentence, saying he would 'always support' the UK court system.
A spokesperson for the NEU said: "The management of Preston College reached a decision to dismiss the teacher following disciplinary procedures.
"The NEU was not directly involved in these processes and it will be for the Employment Tribunal to consider the fairness of the dismissal if and when the claim reaches a hearing."
4
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
Boyfriend found ex-partner dead but left her body on the sofa covered in a blanket for YEARS in sick act
A MAN has been jailed after living for more than two years with the body of his dead ex-partner lying on his sofa under a blanket. Jamie Stevens, 51, kept the remains of 36-year-old Anouska Sites in the living room of his flat in Torquay, Devon, after finding her dead, and never told police. 2 Stevens was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court to 14 months in prison for preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice. The second offence related to lying to officers in a signed witness statement about when he had last seen Ms Sites. Anouska was last seen in May 2022 but was not reported missing until April this year. Police then began an investigation to trace her. They spoke to Stevens, who claimed he had not seen her since February or March 2022. Officers visited the Upton Road flat several times but got no answer. Stevens later said he had moved out. When police forced entry on 27 May 2025, they found the grim truth. Prosecutor Hollie Gilbery said: 'Police started to search the flat, and upon lifting a blanket in the living area they discovered a skeletal arm and hand. 'Officers did notice there were various fragranced items scattered around the lounge, inferring they must have been to mask any smells.' The property was described as being like that of a hoarder, with rubbish, faeces and bottled urine strewn around. Stevens told officers Anouska had stayed the night in January 2023. He went out the next day and returned to find her dead on the sofa. He admitted he 'threw a blanket over her body' and carried on living in his bedroom, avoiding the lounge. Defending, Paul Dentith said: 'Ms Sites was a lovely person, my partner, my friend, and I was devastated when she died, and I miss her terribly. She deserved better.' Mr Dentith added Stevens's failure to report the death quickly became 'self-perpetuating' as time went on. Judge Anna Richardson told Stevens: 'It seems you completely wrongly panicked and simply covered her body. "You left her there for years.' She described the case as 'absolutely tragic' and accepted there was no evidence of foul play. Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed Anouska's death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be sent to the coroner. Detective Inspector Jeanne Hellyer said: 'Anouska was denied the dignity and right of a lawful burial on her death by Stevens. "My thoughts remain with Anouska's family and friends, who can now lay her to rest.' 2
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
Illegal immigrant stabbed fellow asylum hotel resident 15 times in frenzied attack
AN illegal immigrant stabbed a fellow asylum hotel resident 15 times in a frenzied attack. Iranian Syed Barzegar, 33, went berserk after the victim banged on his door following a drawn-out row between the pair. He charged at him in the corridor and repeatedly stabbed him, with seven blows to his back. Footage showed the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stumbling around in a bloodied T-shirt, leaving red footprints on the floor at the Holiday Inn Express in Oxford. He needed emergency surgery after the attack on January 30. Barzegar, who claimed asylum in 2023, tried to conceal the weapon by handing it to a pal, Oxford crown court was told. He was convicted of grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article last week and was jailed for three years yesterday. Judge Maria Lamb KC said the victim ignited the situation but nothing can justify the attack. Barzegar's initial asylum claim was rejected by the Home Office but he launched an appeal. Ms Lamb added: ' Whether the deportation provisions apply is not a matter for me.' A co-defendant, Behroz Danandeh, was cleared of conspiring to hide the knife. 1
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
Killer driver who took pal's life in crash had only passed test one day before & done doughnuts in car park
A TEEN motorist who passed his test the day before killing his friend in a car crash has admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Passenger Josh Atkins died in November 2023 when Corey Owen Cooper, then 17, lost control of the car after doing doughnuts in a car park. 3 3 Cooper had been speeding between 47mph and 53mph on 20mph roads in his grandfather's Fiat Grand Punto before the fatal crash in Sheffield. The teen pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and seriously injuring another passenger at a hearing in Sheffield Crown Court. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC released Cooper, now 19, on bail but warned him he faces jail on November 7. He said: "You will be sent into custody. The only issue for me to determine is for how long. There's also the question of disqualification. "In the interim, I will disqualify you from driving - that's to say you are not permitted by law to drive on public roads. "The likelihood is in fact almost an inevitability that you will be taken into custody. You have to prepare yourself for that." Prosecutor Ian West told the court Cooper only passed his driving test 24 hours before the crash. Mr West said: "He had driven the vehicle the day before, it belonged to his grandfather." Barristers representing Cooper are set to submit a basis of plea over the next week. It is understood to relate to Cooper's failure to note an error message which flashed up on the vehicle's "faulty ABS braking system". Josh's family and friends all celebrated the teen's short life with a charity walk through Hillsborough Park last November. Speaking at the time, Josh's auntie, Claire Chapman, said: "It was a great afternoon, even with the rain. "We all loved to see to see so many of Josh's friends turn out for him. "I think it was a day of remembrance and reflection rather than sadness." The two charities who benefited from the walk were The Donor Family Network, who support families of organ donors, and RoadPeace, a road crash victim awareness group. Josh's family announced that four people had benefited from Josh's organs which had been donated after his death. 3
