Let's learn from this teacher's sex ordeal

Problem child doesn’t even begin to ­describe the kid at the heart of the latest school sex-abuse case.

This 16-year-old boy was being treated for a series of personality problems, had turned to drink and drugs and was addicted to ­internet pornography.

He was ­regularly seen by ­psychiatrists and had a track record of making false sex claims against women, including his teachers.

So when this deeply ­disturbed kid accused his teacher of having sex with him you’d think police would write it off as just another one of his perversions.

Sure, they have a duty to investigate his claims, some of which included ill-judged affectionate letters written by the teacher.

But to take it all the way to court? That’s madness.

Instead of quietly dealing with this serial liar with a known sex obsession, they arrested his teacher.

It was his word against the word of Teresa McKenzie, a 39-year-old mother of two described by colleagues as “an amazing teacher”.

This was the moment all common sense went out the window.

I imagine social services and the police were so busy chasing random PC targets they forgot all about reason.

It was so obvious Mrs McKenzie was innocent it took a jury just 50 minutes to clear her of all charges.

Any case of child abuse must be taken seriously.

But this case is indicative of the PC madness gripping our welfare departments.

They bend over backwards to protect the “human rights” of a strapping 16-year-old serial fantasist.

But what about the rights of Mrs McKenzie?

This case has destroyed her life. She was sacked from the job she loved as a deputy headmistress and despite her exoneration, her CV is now toxic.

Then there’s the effect on her family.

Her marriage was tested to the limit and her young children were kept under the scrutiny of social services.

Try explaining that to your kids, your kids’ friends and all those parents whispering at the school gates.

Teaching is a tough profession.

Teaching “special needs” kids who have been thrown out of mainstream school is the toughest job of all.

When Teresa McKenzie was assigned to this ­troubled boy, she was warned of his behaviour by another ­female teacher.

She took him on regardless because that’s what truly dedicated ­teachers do.

But you ­wonder, after this appalling case, how many teachers will risk their reputations and ­livelihoods to help disturbed kids.

Teachers like Mrs ­McKenzie need all the support they can get from ­social ­services and welfare departments. They need co-operation not paranoia.

This case, which cost the taxpayer about £50,000, should never have come to court. It ­finally took 12 common men to figure out what a team of ­“professionals” couldn’t see – blinding common sense.