Ex-teacher cleared of indecent assault

A FORMER teacher has been cleared of sexually assaulting one of his pupils while working at Radyr High School in Cardiff.

John Williams, 71, denied six counts of indecent assault and was found not guilty by a jury following a two-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

The allegations related to his time at the comprehensive school in Radyr in the 1970s.

Prosecutors alleged the former English and drama teacher sexually touched a pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They said the alleged abuse occurred while he was carrying out corporal punishment, which was legal at the time.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees told the court the defendant touched the pupil on numerous occasions over a three-year period.

In her opening, Ms Rees said: “In the course of corporal punishment smacking, he would touch [the student] between the legs.”

She added: “It was clear from the incidents to come that the defendant was sexually motivated

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and excited by the physical punishment.”

James Evans, defending, argued none of that happened and Mr Williams never touched the student sexually.

The court heard his career as a teacher spanned more than 40 years.

He also taught at Duffryn Comprehensive School in Newport and was head teacher at Pen-YDre High School in Merthyr Tydfil.

Mr Williams told the court he had no recollection of the former student who had made the allegation.

He said at the start of his career corporal punishment was used in schools and part of his responsibility was to ensure good behaviour, attendance and general discipline.

During the defendant’s evidence-in-chief, Mr Evans asked: “Did you ever touch a boy or a girl inappropriately?”

Mr Williams, from Pen-Y-Waun, Pentyrch, replied: “No, no I have never inappropriately touched a male or a female.”

The jury delivered unanimous not guilty verdicts on all six counts and the defendant was discharged.