Jury clears teacher of sex assault claims

A jury at Hull Crown Court found science teacher Christopher Hird, 47, not guilty of two charges of sexual assault, one of indecent assault, and one of sexual activity with a child under 16.

The court last week was told the allegations against Mr Hird, who has been a teacher for 24 years, amounted to “brief and subtle” touchings during lessons, involving a 15-year-old girl, another aged 16, and a third who alleged she had been touched inappropriately during her first week at the school, when she was aged 11, as he removed a piece of paper she was sitting on.

He had been suspended from his job at a secondary school in East Yorkshire.

A spokeswoman for East Riding Council said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council will be reviewing Mr Hird’s suspension now court proceedings have concluded.”