UK: Mother spreads false claims that teacher sexually assaulted her young daughter

Story here. Excerpt:

'An angry mother launched a hate campaign against a primary school headteacher by spreading false rumours that he had sexually abused her daughter, a court heard.

Teresa Hughes, 39, sent a hand-written letter to teacher Phil Jackson before bombarding Lyppard Grange Primary School in Worcester with phone calls.

Hughes then met another parent outside Tesco and pretended Mr Jackson had been suspended for touching her nine-year-old daughter Gabriella.

She also left a rambling message on the school's answerphone, claiming staff were trying to get Gabriella to leave.

Hughes, who lives in Worcester, admitted one charge of harassment when she appeared before magistrates in the town on Monday.

Prosecutor Leslie Ashton told the court the 'malicious unfounded allegations' caused Mr Jackson so much stress that he likened it to being diagnosed with cancer.

The court heard how Hughes started a smear campaign following an altercation in the school playground on June 11 last year.'