Burglar freed by human rights to look after his children threatened headmistress

By Andy Dolan


Bishop with his children after his release. He admitted using threatening words or behaviour


The burglar let out of jail because it breached his family’s human rights has a history of aggressive behaviour, it emerged yesterday.

Wayne Bishop, 33, left a headmistress fearing for her own and her pupils’ safety after storming in to his son’s school and threatening to smash up ‘every car in the car park’ in a row over a bracelet.

A court heard the father of five – who was released a month into his fourth jail term on Friday following the Appeal Court’s astonishing judgment – went berserk after head Dora Wood confiscated the jewellery from his five-year-old son.


Bishop had been called to the school in October 2008 to discuss why his son repeatedly wore the bracelet in defiance of school rules. But Bishop blocked the school drive with his car and told Miss Wood: ‘I’m going to do you over.’

Nottingham magistrates heard Bishop began swearing at the headmistress in her office, adding: ‘I’m not sticking to the rules. My son’s not sticking to the rules.’

Bishop repeated the threats several times before heading into a corridor, still swearing, where a number of children were standing. During the 25-minute incident, Bishop again refused to move his car, saying: ‘The feds won’t be able to get in.’

The former warehouse assistant was arrested at Portland School in Bilborough, Nottingham, and later admitted using threatening words or behaviour.

He was given 100 hours of community service and ordered to be monitored by the probation service for a year. He was also told to pay £50 compensation to Miss Wood.

How we reported it: The Daily Mail on Saturday


The head, 57, yesterday said it would be ‘inappropriate to comment’ on the Appeal Court’s judgment in relation to Bishop.

But a source close to the school said she was aware of the circumstances surrounding his early release and added: ‘Dora thinks the judges have had the wool pulled over their eyes. He was extremely aggressive and intimidating when she had that unfortunate encounter with him.’

Last month Bishop was sentenced to eight months in jail after admitting burglary and dangerous driving in relation to a break-in at Mansfield Rugby Club last September.

But he was released on Friday after Mr Justice Maddison and Mr Justice Sweeney agreed that imprisoning him was not in the ‘best interests’ of his children, and ordered the sentence to be suspended. He must also obey a 10pm-6am curfew.

Daddy's home: Bishop is embraced by his children after being freed from prison


The case is thought to be the first time Article 8 of the Human Rights Act – repeatedly used by foreign criminals to avoid deportation from the UK – has been used to let a prisoner walk free from jail.

Critics said thousands more may try to use Article 8, which guarantees the right to respect for a private and family life, as a ‘get out of jail’ card.

Bishop’s five children with ex-partner Tracey York, 30, were looked after by his sister, a single parent of seven, during the week because Miss York, who had the children at weekends, worked shifts.

He said his wife, Sandra, 36, was never considered as a possible carer for the children because she has four children of her own. Bishop, of Clifton, Nottingham, has convictions for nine offences – including two for using threatening words or behaviour – and has been sentenced to prison on four occasions.

When asked about the Portland School incident yesterday, he said his behaviour had been ‘out of character’, but claimed that by restraining his son to remove the bracelet, the teacher involved had been guilty of assault.


source:dailymail