Walsall father jailed for racist and homophobic comments to school teachers
A Walsall father has been jailed for threatening and racist behaviour towards teachers at his child’s school.
Stephen Cosgrove charged into Brownhills School in Deakin Avenue on February 7 following an incident at the school in which his child’s arm was broken that day.
The 36-year-old began hurling racist insults at one of the teachers.
Unemployed Cosgrove was sent on his way, but returned the following morning armed with an axe and continued his rant towards teachers.
He made further racial comments and homophobic insults.
PC Paul Watts, from force CID, said: “Both the aggressive incidents were witnessed by students at the school, who heard the swearing and racist language.
“What Cosgrove did was unacceptable and created fear for not only pupils, but the teachers who had to face him.
“I am glad we have brought this man to justice and hope it can serve as an example that we will not tolerate this type of abuse in our community."
On Thursday at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Cosgrove was jailed for a year for the public order offences and handed a five-year restraining order.
He was ordered not to contact any employee of Brownhills School and not to go within 100 yards of the building.
In a victim impact statement, the teacher said: “I am a black teacher and this is my fifth year in my teaching career. I have never experienced extreme racial abuse, violent threatening behaviour and intimidating far right views from parents at school, as demonstrated by Cosgrove.
“The constant thought of his threatening acts of violence has caused me to avoid going out publicly due to the overwhelming fear of being injured or assaulted, which has left me feeling vulnerable."
Enquiries into the incident which left Cosgrove’s child injured continue.
