A MUM sent messages to her son’s school calling a teacher a "tosser" and branding the school a "borstal".

The 39-year-old targeted Melanie Williams, the headteacher of Royds Hall High School, with a series of e-mails, letters and voice messages, Huddersfield magistrates heard yesterday.

Sarah Swarbrick, prosecuting, said: "Ms Williams received numerous letters, e-mails and answer-phone messages. The contents were inappropriate.

"She made threats against her and other staff members. It was found to be extremely distressing."

The court heard on one occasion the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent a message calling a member of staff "no better than a bully and a thief".

On another she called a teacher a "tosser". A further e-mail described the school as a borstal.

In June last year the woman threatened to take Ms Williams to court for "defamation," claiming she had recorded all their telephone conversations.

Ms Swarbrick said: "It has affected the headteacher in both her working environment and her private life."

The court heard the problems started after the woman’s teenage son failed to attend school on several occasions.

There had been problems with truancy as far back as 2007.

In March of 2009, the boy enrolled at Royds Hall, but the family then moved to Sheffield before again returning to Huddersfield.

The boy then failed to attend school in April of last year and in July his mother was contacted and attempts were made to address the truancy issue.

Ms Swarbrick added: "She failed to engage and letters were sent warning that if (her son) didn’t attend, prosecution would be considered."

The woman, who now lives in Sheffield, admitted failing to ensure her child’s attendance at school and sending abusive messages.

Charles Ainley, mitigating, said his client suffered from mental health problems.

He added: "Her son was being bullied and she felt it wasn’t being dealt with adequately. That’s what led to her frustration."

The woman was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and has to attend a victim awareness programme. She has to pay £250 in court costs.