A driving instructor has said his 'life changed overnight' when he was convicted of punishing a learner from Medway by striking her with a ruler.

Majid Arshad has now been given the go-ahead to teach students using the stationary after judges overturned the decision.

A judge and two magistrates reversed an earlier court decision and acquitted the 38-year-old dad of assault.

Mr Arshad, of Kingsnorth Road, Gillingham, had admitted using the ruler as "an instructional aid" to teach his pupils clutch control.

He told Judge Tony Baumgartner, who was sitting with justices, that the ruler, which he kept in the vehicle's glove compartment, was similar to using a frisbee and sponge ball.

After the hearing he said he planned to carry on teaching students – which he as he has done for the past five years.

Kayleigh Lewis had said she had been hit with the piece of stationery each time she stalled the car which was up to 30 times during the five lessons.

She told Maidstone Crown Court in July how she eventually confronted the instructor in a petrol station, telling him: "I thought the times of hitting students with a ruler were over."

But Mr Arshad said the conversation never took place and he had asked permission to use the ruler before each lesson.

He told the appeal hearing the ruler was used "just two or three times" to help Ms Lewis.

The father of five said he wasn't comfortable touching a female student and had "placed the ruler on the knee" to help with control.

Judge Baumgartner said Ms Lewis had explained "in a number of different ways how he had used the ruler, tapping, striking, and hitting

He added: "It seems to us she was confused about the way the ruler was deployed at times. And she had initially failed to raise an objection about how the ruler was deployed."

The judge said Mrs Lewis had continued to take lessons and it was only "towards the very end she raised what she thought was an objection.

He said: "It wasn't, in our minds, a very clear direction for him not to use the ruler. We are troubled by a number of features which undermine her credibility and reliability."

Mr Arshad said at no time was he told by Ms Lewis it wasn't appropriate to use the ruler.

Mrs Lewis has told how she became concerned soon after starting the lessons in February last year.

The 29-year-old Luton resident said she had block booked 20 lessons, and had completed five two-hour sessions.

Gwen Williams, for Mr Arshad, accused her of making up the stories to get back the money she had paid for the lessons – but that was denied.

In allowing the appeal against the conviction for assault by beating, the judge scrapped a 12-month community order imposed earlier by magistrates.

Neither will Mr Arshad have to do 100 hours of unpaid work or pay £100 compensation to Mrs Lewis.

The £85 victim surcharge and £620 court costs were also scrapped.

"My life had rapidly changed overnight. I fell justice has now been served and my name has been cleared"'

Reacting to the news, Mrs Lewis said: "It's disgusting, I'm angry because its not right. He openly admitted to using a ruler on me.

"He said in court that he got my permission to use it, when I didn't, is disgusting. I'm going to be complaining to whoever is responsible for this."

Speaking after the judgement, Mr Arshad said: "I am very pleased with the outcome of the appeal, quashing my conviction.

"The past few months have been very difficult for me and affected me and my family.

"I am grateful for everyone’s support, during this difficult time, who had stuck by me. I cannot explain how devastated I was when I was previously convicted.

"My life had rapidly changed overnight. I feel justice has now been served and my name has been cleared.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wife and all those, who stood by me, in this difficult time."

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