A FATHER threatened to kill a headteacher and assaulted a police officer after sending abusive posts to a school.

David Lawrence, 43, posted a message on Facebook making lurid, unsubstantiated and entirely false allegations about the headteacher at Walton Primary School.

Two days later he made another post, repeating the allegations and adding: “I am going to kill you”, a threat directed at the headteacher.

Both Facebook posts were blocked.

However, an e-mail was also sent repeating the threats and allegations.

When police went to question him about the messages on December 9 last year, he pushed an officer.

Lawrence, of Oakwood Avenue, West Mersea, admitted one count of assaulting a police officer and one count of sending offensive messages when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

He apologised to the court, via his solicitor.

He claimed he did not mean what he was saying, but was upset due to a custody battle he was involved with.

Helen Parr, chairman of the bench, said: “The impact on the headteacher had these messages been published would have been serious.”

Lawrence was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work, pay £50 compensation and £60 costs.