A TEACHER sacked by Calderdale Council for writing a “racy” novel is to start as a creative writing lecturer at the University of Huddersfield.

And the move by Leonora Rustamova, from Salendine Nook, comes as she confirmed she had won the first stage of a three-year legal battle to ‘clear her name’ over her sacking from her role at Calder High School at Mytholmroyd.

Ms Rustamova, known as Miss Rusty, lost her job after the book Stop! Don’t Read This was published online and later in print. She said she had written it to encourage literacy among pupils.

In March she lost her tribunal appeal but earlier this week she took her case to the Tribunal Appeal Court in London.

She told the Examiner: “It was all legal argument and my solicitor was applying precedent to my case.

“One of the reasons we won the

appeal was because the lay members of the panel weren’t satisfactory.

“I am delighted that the appeal has been justified and it will now be sent back to Leeds to be heard early next year.”

Speaking of the lengthy battle she said: “It’s nice to get it into a wider forum in London.

“It’s about clearing my name and some damages would be nice.