A school principal who “exploited and abused his position” has been found guilty of harassing a junior teacher who refused his advances.
Gregory Hill claimed he had “fallen in love” with his junior colleague and bombarded her with messages sent from the school’s social media accounts that became increasingly personal from February 2022 over a 12-month period.
As well as sending her messages, he even tried to get her to accompany him on a school trip, after she started at Howard Junior School, in King’s Lynn, Norfolkin September 2021.
The woman said Hill, 48, “was always harassing me with messages and emails late at night.”
On one occasion, Hill texted him: “I can’t wait to see that smile, that beautiful face and that wonderful person tomorrow.”
Another time he sent a message: “I would like to build a future for us in school and outside of school xx.”
The victim told Hill she did not want a personal relationship with him, but he continued to harass her until February 19, 2023, when she reported his behavior to police.
When officers arrived at Hill’s school to arrest him shortly before 9 a.m. on March 6, 2023, he resisted arrest for 33 minutes.
Police body camera footage shows the arrest of Gregory Hill who was clinging to a hedge when officers came to pick him up. Photo: PA
The behavior gave the victim “nightmares”
In her statement about the impact of the assault, the teacher said: “I was never able to relax or have any personal time because he clearly expected me to respond to every single communication he made.
“When I failed to do so, he took it personally and I received a barrage of negativity from him.
“As time went on in school, my behaviors changed.
“I found that I didn’t want to be alone in case Mr. Hill took the opportunity to come to class and chat with me.”
As a result of his bullying, she began to “have trouble sleeping and have nightmares” and live in “fear of seeing him” when she was not at school.
She added: “The last few years have completely changed me as a person and I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to the person I once was.”
A witness told police that Hill photographed the victim’s car while she was visiting a family member.
Hill also used Facebook to try to find information about his victim, police said.
When the victim tried to stop the harassment, she requested a meeting with school officials about “ongoing unwanted behavior,” but Hill confronted her and claimed she was responsible for “putting her job at risk” and possibly making her elderly mother “homeless.”
Find out more about Sky News:
Two men deny murder after human remains scattered across town
Couple who died in house fire identified
Baby dies after contracting whooping cough
School principal ‘pretended to faint’ in attempt to escape arrest
Hill attempted to avoid arrest by clinging to a hedge and refusing to let go, claiming officers were trying to break his wrist and arms.
He also bit his lip and pretended to faint.
Norfolk Police said Hill, of Fakenham, denied harassment and resisting arrest but was found guilty of both charges at Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
He is due to be tried on September 2.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Press here
Detective Claire Lordan, who led the investigation, said Hill “exploited and abused his position”.
She added: “His behaviour and treatment of a younger colleague, who was just starting her career, shows that he thought he could behave exactly as he wanted and get away with it time and time again.”
