The child sex abuse trial of a former Essex school boss has been abandoned partway through and rescheduled for next summer.

Jurors have been discharged in the trial of Lee Brumby, 63, of Wellands Road, Witham – a former headteacher of Billericay’s Mayflower High School.

He stands accused of two counts of raping a girl under 13, two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child and one count of indecency with a child.

Mr Brumby, who denies all of the offences, was on trial at Basildon Crown Court alongside his ex-wife Elaine, 61, of Kiln Road, Great Wakering.

She has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child, one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexually assaulting an adult man.

The alleged offences all reportedly occurred when the couple lived in Little Wakering, the prosecutor told jurors.

The trial began on November 4, but has been halted before it could end.

During the second week of the trial, one of the key barristers suffered a sudden bereavement which meant he was unable to continue with the case.

A new trial will now take place on July 21, 2025.