The headteacher of a special needs school in Harold Hill is under investigation by Havering Council after admitting he “doctored” evidence and lied in court.

It follows the success of teacher Janet Vaile in claiming compensation from the council – her then employers – for negligence after nearly 10 years of legal wrangling.

Mrs Vaile was stabbed with a pencil and violently shaken by an autistic pupil during a lesson in Dycorts School, in Settle Road, London’s Appeal Court heard last week.

Lord Justice Longmore said the woman had not been properly trained to deal with autistic children.

But Dycorts’ principal, Geoffrey Wroe – head for more than 25 years – doctored log books and told High Court judges that Mrs Vaile had been trained when she had not.

The judge told the court: “Most reprehensibly, the headmaster took it on himself to doctor the contemporary evidence and deny in the witness box that he had done so.”

Although Mr Wroe is not facing criminal action for perjury, a spokesman for the council said an internal investigation is being carried out.

The boy set upon Mrs Vaile after giving her “an evil look”.

He impaled her hand with a pencil before grabbing her by the neck and shaking her head so violently she suffered a detached retina.

The trauma destroyed the teacher’s career.

Judges ruled the council is liable to compensate the woman for “pain and suffering” and loss of earnings.

They said Mrs Vaile had not been properly trained and the council “failed in its duty to provide her with a safe system of work.”

The damages total is likely to be at least a six-figure sum.

The boy cannot be indentified.