Man jailed after threatening to behead son's teacher in French village

A man has been given a six-month jail term in France after he threatened to behead a female primary school teacher who had disciplined his son at a village primary school.

The teacher has been granted official protection and has gone on sick leave.

Over the summer, Geffray steered through a law aimed at protecting staff from a "significant risk" to their safety or health from a member of a student's family.

The case revives terrible memories in France of the beheading of a teacher in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine six years ago. Samuel Paty was murdered in a jihadist attack outside his school by an 18-year-old Chechen refugee.

The threat was made after the man had been called in for a chat with the school, according to Toulouse education chief Karim Benmiloud.

The child continued to misbehave in the second classroom and the teacher later told him off for acting up.

The parent subsequently apologised, however a judicial complaint was made and he went before a judge in Toulouse on Thursday afternoon.

The Toulouse prosecutor had asked for a period of six months' house arrest, however the judge said the man should serve the time in jail because of the seriousness of his actions.

The sentence also requires him to undergo a citizenship course and avoid contacting the victim or approaching the school.

It is thought the boy and a younger sister may now be moved to another school outside Le Fauga.

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