01/10/2010 - Head faces fine over roof fall
A headteacher is facing a fine after a pupil fell through a school roof and fractured his skull.
John Summerfield, 64, was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of failing to take reasonable care for the safety of Joel Murray.
The 18-year-old fell 8ft (2.4m) through a skylight into a corridor after the headteacher took him and a group of "slightly inebriated" sixth-formers on to the roof of Sacred Heart Catholic College in Crosby, Merseyside.
The teenager also broke his ribs, perforated an eardrum and suffered permanent damage to his eye in the fall.
It took the jury of six men and six women less than two hours to reach its decision and Summerfield bowed his head as the guilty verdict was read out to the court.
Judge Gilmour QC told the panel: "This was a moment of folly."
He added: "He is a very caring teacher. He was doing what he thought would increase the enjoyment of the evening for some of the pupils and, in doing that, he didn't really think about the safety aspects of taking them on to the roof."
Summerfield will receive a fine when he is sentenced at 10am on Friday October 29 at Liverpool Crown Court.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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