text: Abuse: Angela Linton wrote a homophobic message directed at one of her son's teachers in the child's pass book . A mother who was banned from her son's school after abusing staff then used one of the child's books to deliver a homophobic tirade to a teacher. Angela Linton wrote the vile message, directed at gay teacher Thomas O'Brien, after a row about a school outing, Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard. The 47-year-old, from Handsworth in Birmingham, has been given a community order, told to carry out unpaid work and fined £185 for harassing the victim. Linton's son started at Perry Beeches secondary school in September last year, the court heard. Helen Shipley, prosecuting, said that Linton approached head of year Mr O'Brien in October and expressed concern that she could not afford to send her son on a forthcoming residential trip. She was told that the school could come to an alternative arrangement, but failed to attend a scheduled meeting and then abused Mr O'Brien over the phone. Miss Shipley said: 'Linton felt that the school, in particular Mr O'Brien, was unfairly targeting her son, who had been placed in detention over having a mobile phone in class.' In another incident, Linton was shouting and acting aggressively outside the school entrance, and was told to leave the premises. School officials then sent the angry mother a letter telling her she was banned, and could only communicate with the school via the assistant headteacher or in her son's pass book. In January, she wrote a message in the book referring to the phone row she had with Mr O'Brien and abusing him for being gay. 'Mr O'Brien said he was traumatised by reading these comments,' Miss Shipley said. 'His sexuality was well known. He said it was something he was comfortable with. 'He could not believe they had been written. He did not know the reason for it.' School: The row began when Linton's son - a pupil at Perry Beeches, pictured - could not afford to go on an outing . Akhmed Yakoob, defending, said Linton felt remorse over her actions, which were out of character. Linton pleaded guilty to displaying writing which caused harassment, alarm or distress, and was sentenced to a 12-month community order. She was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and to pay £100 compensation to the victim and £85 costs. Chairman of the bench Peter Pratt said: 'There is no doubt whatsoever that you have intentionally caused harassment, alarm or distress, most obviously to Mr O'Brien. 'The virulent language undoubtedly caused Mr O'Brien to be fearful.'
target: Angela Linton, 47, was banned from school after row about a pupil outing .
  She used her son's pass book to abuse gay teacher Thomas O'Brien .
  Mother has been sentenced to community order and fined £185 .