A boy aged ten assaulted four members of staff and a 12-year-old pupil at an Essex school for children with behavioural problems.

The youngster, who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), punched a female support worker in the mouth without warning.

A court heard he "simply lost his temper" because he had been banned from going into the dining room at break times.

Later he launched an attack on another member of staff at the school.

"He came at her, punching and kicking," said Iris Marr, prosecuting.

"One of the kicks hit her in the groin... she was bent over with pain. He grabbed her by the hair and started swinging her around."

The worker was left "extremely shaken" by her ordeal, a youth court heard.

The youngster then punched a 12-year-old boy in the face "for no apparent reason", making his nose bleed.

The school principal tried to calm the boy down but was also punched in the face and left with a black eye.

Another staff member was assaulted before police were called on Tuesday.

The youngster told officers he couldn't remember most of what happened, but claimed a group of other children had been "winding him up" and shouting "fight, fight" before the assault on the 12-year-old.

He said all his victims were friends, but he had a problem controlling his temper.

He admitted the assaults and a further attack on April 10, when he headbutted a member of staff.

The school said it would give the ten-year-old "one last chance".

Harwich magistrates gave the youngster a conditional discharge, but warned him: "If you assault, injure or punch staff there, you will be removed from that place."