Former school governor denies 15 historic sex offences

A FORMER chairman of the governing body of an independent North Yorkshire school has pleaded not guilty to 15 historic sexual offences involving two children and a man.

Ex-Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate governor, Brian Richard Martin, of Farnham Lane, Ferrensby, Knaresborough, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with 10 counts of indecent assault, one of a serious sexual offence, three of attempted serious sexual offence and one other of making indecent photographs of a child.

The alleged offences occurred between 1982 and 1995.

The Yorkshire Post reported in November 2015 that Martin, 67, had been arrested and that he had stepped aside from his day to day duties at the school. Martin appeared in court wearing a dark suit for a short first hearing.

Deputy district judge Michelle Jeffreys told Martin that the case was too serious to be dealt with by the magistrates’ court and his case was adjourned until September 30 for a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

Martin, who also has a residence in France, was released on conditional bail and the court heard that he had already surrendered his passport.

The bail conditions prohibit Martin from entering the Thorpe Underwood estate between Knaresborough and York and from having unsupervised contact with anyone 18 or under.