THE deputy head teacher of Aireville School feared he was going to be hit by a man who had been drinking all night to drown his sorrows.

Christopher Keith Jeffries admitted using violent words or behaviour towards the deputy headteacher of Aireville School when he appeared before Skipton magistrates.

The court was told that Jeffries and a friend had gone to the Gargrave Road school at 9.50am on May 21 to protest about another friend who had been sent home for wearing white coloured trainers.

Jeffries, 26, had been drinking since 8pm the evening before after a hoped-for reconciliation with his family in Scotland had gone wrong.

He had become very aggressive and abusive towards the school's deputy headteacher who had been forced to call the police.

Prosecuting, Caroline May said the incident had taken place in front of school pupils and the teacher had felt very intimidated by the men.

She said the deputy head and another teacher had tried to get the men to leave the school, with Jeffries claiming his friend's expulsion had been down to "racism".

"The deputy head teacher took his glasses off because he thought he was going to be hit. He was only doing his job on school grounds," she said.

Defending, Glenn Chivers said there was no excuse for what Jeffries had done.

He said he had moved homes a lot in his life and had recently hoped to be reconciled with his family who had moved to Scotland.

Unfortunately, it had not worked out and he had moved back to Skipton two weeks ago and was living with friends in Castle Street.

Mr Chivers said: "He was down in the dumps. From 8pm the day before, he drowned his sorrows and had carried on drinking throughout the night with his friend."

The following day, another friend had been sent home from school for wearing white coloured trainers.

"His common sense deserted him the following morning at school," added Mr Chivers.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing until Friday June 22 for a pre-sentence report.