A TEACHER at a Tottenham secondary school has been suspended for allegedly harassing and intimidating his colleagues over a row about gay rights.

History teacher and practising Christian Kwabena Peat, 54, wrote letters to three members of staff at Park View Academy, in Langham Road, following the training session.

Invited speaker Sue Sanders had ruffled feathers when she asked the audience why it was believed that heterosexuality was natural and that those who did not accept being gay was normal had to "sort out their prejudices".

Mr Peat condemned the comments made by the gay rights campaigner and co-founder of Schools Out, which conflicted with his religious views.

The letter also contained citations from the Bible warning that practising homosexuals risked "God’s wrath."

A complaint was made to the school’s headteacher claiming they felt "harassed and intimidated" by Mr Peat’s letter. He was suspended on full pay from his £50,000-a-year post in January while an investigation, which ends next month, was carried out.

Mr Peat, a father-of-three, said: “I am the one being harassed and intimidated — for expressing my religious views.

“As an experienced professional, I am very supportive of equality and diversity programmes and have always got on well with colleagues who are well aware of my Christian beliefs.”

Headteacher Alex Atherton made it clear a member of staff had been suspended while an allegation of intimidation and harassment was investigated.

He added that no one had been suspended for complaining about the training session.

Ms Sanders said she felt her presentation had been misinterpreted.

“I start by stating my talk is a dialogue not a monologue. It is very much a discussion and people were able to share their views.

“The point is not to promote being gay but to remind teachers that we live in a diverse community. The average person is not a white, heterosexual, able-bodied male with Christian beliefs. We are all wonderfully different.

“Reports show that the numbers of students in schools who are being bullied because they are gay is rising. It is not enough for teachers to merely be reactive and tell someone off for using homophobic language but should be educating that in our community, there are people who are also sexually diverse.”

Andrea Minichiello Williams, Mr Peat’s barrister and director of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “A legitimate orthodox Christian view as expressed by Mr Peat, however disagreeable others may find it, should not be construed as harassment or discrimination.”