A 50-YEAR-OLD primary school teacher from a school in Weston-Super-Mare has appeared in court charged with allegations that he filmed himself abusing a girl in his classroom.
He was arrested on Monday after a seven-year-old pupil told her parents he had been touching her inappropriately in class.
The name of the man, and the school where he has worked for 15 years, cannot be revealed for legal reasons. However, it is known that he is facing four separate charges.
North Somerset Courthouse prosecutors yesterday charged him with two counts of abusing a position of trust, and two of sexually assaulting a girl.
Thirty officers searched his home, computer and classroom.
They have confiscated 20 memory sticks, and prosecutor Kelly Marshall said one of them contained video footage of a man, which police believe is the teacher, touching a youngster inappropriately during class.
Experts believe the footage was filmed from underneath a school desk.
The man denied all allegations when he was interviewed by police, but has yet to enter a formal court plea.
However, prosecutors revealed he has received two previous warnings relating to his conduct at the school where he works.
In 2004 he was interviewed by the headteacher over concerns raised by parents, and in 2008 he received a verbal warning after a teaching assistant aired fears of her own.
The teacher has been remanded in custody to appear via video link at Bristol Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Officers have set up an incident room for concerned parents but say they believe this is an isolated case.
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