Maran White (left) Anne Williams (right)PRIMARY school headmistress Maran White slapped a teacher across the face during a furious row over paperwork deadlines, a court heard.

The 51-year-old headteacher of Robert Le Kyng School in Westcott Street, Swindon, lashed out at class teacher Anne Williams "in a complete rage" during a heated meeting in her office, magistrates in Devizes were told.

Mother-of-two Mrs Williams, a teacher of 25 years experience, was left nursing a bright red mark stretching from her jaw line to her eye.

Magistrates were told how Mrs White was prone to violent outbursts and had singled out Mrs Williams for particular criticism.

She clashed with the headmistress so often that she kept a log of incidents on the advice of colleagues. But the situation reached boiling point in March last year when Mrs White reprimanded Mrs Williams for not producing a budget report on time.

Mrs Williams told the court: "She was standing two feet in front of me and was bright red in the face.

"I felt a bit alarmed and stressed but it was something that had happened before.

"She sat down in her chair looking furious and just gave me a sneer and a withering look. I was trying to be as rational as I could but she had a tone of complete rage.

"The she stood up, took two steps towards me and hit me with her left hand across the right side of my face. I had no warning of it at all.

"I was shocked by what had happened and she just sat down immediately. I left the office thinking 'I have to get out of here'."

The court was told there had been an argument between the pair the previous evening over budget deadlines for the history department.

Mrs Williams, of Swindon, said: "She stomped into the room and said she needed the costings for a meeting that evening. I said I had not done them there was not enough notice. She was venomous towards me and told me I had known since November.

"I felt upset, frightened and intimidated but tried to explain in a rational way that I had done as requested."

The court heard how White had a fraught relationship with Mrs Williams during her four years as head of the school, which has more than 370 children on its books.

She had blocked her from going on teaching courses and once became "livid" when Mrs Williams contacted Ofsted over feedback on literary lessons, it was said.

It was claimed that Mrs Williams had been given "damning feedback" and her ability as a teacher in a bid to undermine her and make her feel demoralised.

The problem escalated in 2002 and by March that year, when the incident occurred, Mrs Williams said it had become "almost unbearable."

After the alleged slapping Mrs Williams told other members of staff what had happened, and they took a picture of her red face.

Mrs White, who lives in Old Town, Swindon, and has taught at the school for 13 years, was suspended on full pay following the alleged incident, denies the charge of common assault by beating.

Paula Mulhearn, prosecuting, said: "Mrs Williams was deeply shocked by the assault which left a red mark between her jaw line and eye."

The case continues