Eton teacher named over child sex charges

A FORMER teacher at Eton College accused of child sex offences has lost his anonymity after a judge overturned a court order that partially protected it.

Matthew Mowbray, 48, is charged with seven counts of sexual assault on three alleged victims, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of voyeurism.

The teacher was dismissed from the elite boarding school, in Eton, Berkshire, after he was first arrested on suspicion of sexual assault last May.

Mr Mowbray, who lives in the village of Locks Heath, near Southampton, appeared at Slough magistrates’ court in relation to the charges on Tuesday.

During the hearing, a contempt of court order made to protect the identities of the alleged victims meant the media could only refer to the teacher as “Mr Mowbray” in subsequent reports. However, an application submitted yesterday by counsel representing the media to a crown court judge resulted in the ban being lifted.

Judge Heather Norton, sitting at Reading Crown Court, said: “This order should not have been made. There was no power in the court to do so and I lift it.”

Mr Mowbray was not present at the hearing.

In a letter marked “private and confidential”, seen by The Daily Telegraph, Eton parents were given details about the alleged offences, having originally been told in June 2019 about “safety allegations” against a member of staff at the school.

Simon Henderson, the head master of Eton, wrote: “The welfare and wellbeing of our pupils is Eton’s top priority and we continue to do all we can to support those affected.”

A spokesman for the school added: “Eton College can confirm that, as a result of information passed by the school to the local authority designated officer and to the police, a member of staff was arrested in May 2019, suspended from work and subsequently dismissed.

“He has been charged with a number of criminal offences and given the ongoing criminal proceedings, we cannot comment further about the details of this case.”

Eton College, which was founded by King Henry VI in 1440, has around 1,300 pupils aged 13-18 and charges annual fees of more than £40,000. Its alumni include the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and Boris Johnson.

Mr Mowbray will appear at Reading Crown Court on March 31 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.