Chichester teacher cleared of email snooping at Portsmouth Crown Court

A TEACHER who spoke out about alleged cheating at a primary school has been found not guilty of securing unauthorised access to computer material.
Donna-Maria Thomas arrives at Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA WireDonna-Maria Thomas arrives at Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Donna-Maria Thomas arrives at Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Donna-Maria Thomas, 45, had been accused of snooping on her colleagues’ emails after a row over a cancelled holiday.

She was a teacher at Aldingbourne Primary School near Chichester, West Sussex, at the time of the alleged offences.

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She was found not guilty of the charge by a jury at Portsmouth Crown Court.

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During the trial her defence barrister Daniel Darnbrough asked her if the investigation changed her relationship with anyone at the school.

She said: ‘Yes, with everybody at the school.

‘People were openly hostile to me. People made derogatory comments. People would walk out of rooms when I walked in.’

Speaking outside court after being cleared by a jury, Ms Thomas told the PA news agency that the ‘most important thing’ is that her story is out there for the children. She said she was ‘thrilled’ to have been cleared.

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She said: ‘I feel really pleased that the whole story’s out there because now West Sussex County Council are going to have to take steps to address the problem.

‘Today a jury unanimously voted that I was not guilty of the charges… and because of that obviously I’m free to go.

'But it’s more important that that story is out there for the children, that’s the most important thing for me and I just feel so thankful that my story has now been told.

‘I don’t know if I’ll go back to teaching, I’m not sure. It’s going to take me a long time to trust people again.

‘All my options are open so I’m thrilled and so thankful to the jury and the court staff, they’ve been brilliant.’