A former Colchester teacher, accused of indecent assault and child cruelty, is to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Richard Moss, 35, a former teacher at the Oxley Parker School in Mill Road, Mile End - which has since been demolished - faces three cruelty charges.

He is also charged on eight counts of indecent assault on a male under 16 and one of deception. The assaults are said to have occurred at three places, including the school and Friday Woods, Colchester.

Moss, who now lives in Brittany, France, denied all charges at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He was granted conditional bail.

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