A 66-YEAR-OLD man from North Yorkshire is due to appear in court in September, charged with historic sexual offences against children.

The Press understands that the man is a former chairman of Queen Ethelburga’s School governing body, Brian Martin.

North Yorkshire Police said the man would attend Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Friday September 2, when he would face 15 non-recent sexual offences against two children.

A force spokesman said 13 of the charges related to a boy, including indecent assault and making indecent photographs of a child, and there were two counts of indecent assault against a girl.

"The alleged offences occurred between 1982 and 1995," he added.

The Press reported last November that Mr Martin had been arrested at a Harrogate address on suspicion of historic sexual offences.

He moved to deny the allegations, which he said had come as a "shock and surprise", adding: "The allegation and any suspicions are wholly false, and I am confident that in time they will be rebutted in every particular."

Head master Steven Jandrell, who led the Collegiate, said then that the investigation had 'no implications for the current welfare and safeguarding of the pupils at the school.'

A school spokesman said last night: “We are aware of an ongoing police investigation concerning Mr Martin, the former Chair of Governors, and have commented on this previously.

"It is important to stress that this investigation relates to alleged events more than 20 years ago and does not involve the current operations at Queen Ethelburga’s or any current or recent pupils at the school.

"It would therefore be inappropriate for us to make any further statements concerning this investigation at this time.”