A DEPUTY headteacher feared a man was going to burn down special education needs school during a dispute over the planting of memorial trees, magistrates heard.

Barry Jackson, 70, labelled the pupils at Blackmarston School as 'idiots and retards' while making the threats after becoming angry that the orchard could be seen from his property.

Claire Crump, deputy headteacher, said that the event was meant to have been a 'time of quiet reflection' as two of the trees were devoted to a pupil and teacher of the school who had died.

However, the volunteers helping the plant orchard and Mrs Crump were subject to a 'torrent of abuse' by Jackson on March 2, before the incident subsided and the children were able to plant the trees.

Jackson, was found guilty after trial at Hereford Magistrates Court on Wednesday of making insulting, abusive or threatening words or behaviour to Mrs Crump to cause alarm or distress.

Jim Mason, prosecuting, said that volunteers Dr David Marshall and Peter Norton had arrived at the school at 12.45pm to make preparations for the children to plant the orchard.

Dr Marshall said that on arrival at the tree planting site he was met by somebody shouting from an adjacent property window.

"It was bizarre as it was immediately quite offensive words, it became a torrent of strange and abusive words," said Dr Marshall.

"Jackson said the children were all idiots and also 'you are going to burn with the school'."

Mr Norton tried to speak to Jackson, who had moved to leaning over his fence to shout at the pair, but he was unsuccessful.

The men carried out their work until deputy headteacher Claire Crump attended ahead of the children.

She described Jackson as shouting that he didn't want the children anywhere near his house and labelled them 'retards'.

Mrs Crump went to talk to Jackson and offered him to come to the school and talk to them about his concerns.

"He continued further abuse and said he didn't want anything to do with the children," said Mrs Crump.

"He was very vocal about the council and stating that it wasn't our land. It was extremely intimidating and he threatened at one point to burn the school down 'with all of you in it'. I felt intimidated and that he could carry through the threats he was making.

"I'm concerned that one day he may burn down the school or damage the trees if he feels angered about our presence at any time in the future."

Jackson, who has lived next to the school for 10 years, said that he awoke in his property to find the trees had already been planted and he could see them over the top of his fence.

"I was just out there having a rant at these people as seeing the trees made me angry." said Jackson.

"Mrs Crump came down and I called her a liar like the council and that I hoped the school burned down."

Jackson denied using the word 'retard' or using words of that nature. He also denied calling the staff or children 'idiots'.

Paddy Kelly, mitigating, said that the swearing and abusive language Jackson admitted to using was 'common place' and could be heard in everyday lives.

"There has clearly been issues between the parties in the past and he was venting his spleen," said Mr Kelly.

"He had no intent to burn the school down, of course he didn't."

Magistrates found Jackson guilty and concluded that he had referred to the school's pupils as 'retards and idiots'.

"We're not sure he said he was going to burn down the school himself but Jackson accepts saying that he hoped the school burnt down," concluded chair of magistrates Lavinia Sole.

Jackson was ordered to pay a £300 fine, £30 victim surcharge, £100 compensation to Mrs Crump and £640 costs.

Magistrates also imposed a restraining order restricting Jackson from contacting Mrs Crump in any way.

He was also banned from entering Blackmarston School or acting in any way to cause anybody entering or leaving the school harassment, alarm or distress.