Wests Midlands teacher was ‘forced into hiding’ after doctored video alleged she made racist slur

Cheryl Bennett has been paid substantial damages after fake clip taken when she was canvassing for Labour was viewed millions of times

A teacher subjected to a torrent of abuse after doctored footage falsely alleged she used a racist slur while canvassing for the Labour party has said she was forced into hiding and feared it would ruin her career.

Cheryl Bennett, a PE teacher from Wednesbury in the West Midlands, was helping her colleague, Qasim Mughal, hand out Labour leaflets during the local elections in May last year when she was recorded on a household security camera.