A DEPUTY head teacher of a York junior school has appeared in court charged with abusing boys in York and the Lake District.

Howard David Beattie, 51, of Main Street, Knapton, is alleged to have committed seven crimes between April, 1977, and July, 2006.

All the children were under 14 when they were allegedly abused.

Beattie has worked at Carr Junior School, in Acomb, which has more than 200 pupils, for more than 20 years.

The allegations against him include two of abusing a boy aged under 13 in York and five of abusing boys in Ambleside in 1977.

He is currently barred from attending his school under his bail conditions.

Carr Junior School declined to comment, but a City of York Council spokeswoman, said: "We are fully aware of the situation. Formal, robust, inter-agency procedures are being followed, but at this stage we are unable to provide any further comment for legal reasons."

York teacher barred from school after allegations

Howard David Beattie, 51, is alleged to have committed seven crimes between April, 1977, and July, 2006. All the children were under 14 when they were allegedly abused.

The allegations against him include two of abusing a boy aged under 13 in York and five of abusing boys in Ambleside, in 1977.

He is currently barred from attending his school under his bail conditions, which also prevent him contacting any of the boys and order him to live at his home address in Main Street, Knapton.

Beattie was appearing before York Magistrates Court for the second time. A court order made at his first appearance banned the media from identifying him until now.

When Beattie appeared in court for the second time, a Press reporter was present and district judge Martin Walker declined to renew the order after hearing arguments for and against it in a private hearing.

Beattie's case was committed to York Crown Court, where he will appear for a plea and case management hearing on December 22. He gave no indication of his plea.

Beattie faces two charges of sexually touching a boy aged under 13 between September 1, 2005, and July 6, 2006.

He is also alleged to have committed gross indecency with a second boy and indecently assaulted him.

The last three charges allege Beattie twice indecently assaulted a third boy and committed one act of gross indecency involving him.

The offences against the second and third boys are alleged to have occurred in 1977, in Ambleside, when the boys were under 14.

Beattie has worked at Carr Junior School, in Acomb, for more than 20 years. He wore a suit to court, and was accompanied by his wife.

Carr Junior School declined to comment on the case and referred all enquiries to City of York Council, the local education authority.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We are fully aware of the situation. Formal, robust, inter-agency procedures are being followed, but at this stage we are unable to provide any further comment for legal reasons."