Norfolk headteacher convicted of harassment

He was also found guilty of resisting arrest.

Author: Anthony ZahraPublished 18th Jul 2024

A headteacher from Norfolk has been convicted of harassing a colleague.

The un-named victim said the actions of Gregory Hill, who is 48 and from Valley Way in Fakenham, had "completely changed" her as a person.

She first reported Gregory Hill to police in February last year, but her ordeal began two years earlier.

Months after joining Hill's school as a newly qualified teacher, he started sending her personal messages.

He told her that he loved her and wanted to build a future with her.

In another, he wrote: ‘Can’t wait to see this smile, this beautiful face and wonderful person tomorrow.’

Despite rejecting his advances, the court heard that the messages continued.

Over the course of 12 months, Hill claimed he had “fallen in love” with the victim, continued messaging her on social media, insisted she join him on a school trip instead of colleagues, and blamed a “slip of the finger” for a WhatsApp call he made to her just before midnight one evening.

A witness explained to police how she had seen Hill photographing the victim’s car while she was visiting a family member.

In a Victim Personal Statement, she described Hill’s messages as a “constant drain on me both mentally and physically….he was always hounding me with messages and emails late at night.

“I was never able to relax or have any personal time as there was a clear expectation from him that I replied to his every communication. When I failed to do this, he took this personally and I then received a barrage of negativity from him.

“As time progressed at school my behaviours changed. I found that I did not want to be alone in case this led to Mr Hill taking the opportunity to come into class to discuss things with me.

“I have never suffered with anxiety and have been able to handle any challenges that have been thrown at me…I started to struggle with sleeping and would have nightmares…I had concerns that Mr Hill was aware of my movements and this led to a fear of seeing him when I was out and about.

“These last few years have completely changed me as a person and I do not know if I will ever return to the person I once was.”

Gregory Hill has also been convicted of resisting arrest, he is due to be sentenced in September.