A headteacher has told how he endured months of despair after being arrested by police on suspicion of possessing child porn on a school computer.

Christopher Maultby, 52, who has since left his job at St Michael's Church of England School in Leigh, was cleared by detectives after they found no evidence linking him to the allegations.

Mr Maultby said: "I am just both relieved and pleased that the police investigation is over and I have been cleared of any wrongdoing. The past few months have been deeply disturbing for both myself and my family."

Mr Maultby, of Midhurst, West Sussex, was arrested last November and quizzed over allegations he was in possession of indecent images of children on a laptop computer.

He had been due to answer police bail on Wednesday but was told several weeks ago that no further action was being taken.

Published Friday, March 22, 2002