Former Eastcote teacher charged with raping a child

A FORMER Eastcote teacher has been charged with repeatedly raping a nine-year-old girl and sexually assaulting another.

Robert Stringer, 56, a former teacher at Field End School, in Field End Road, Eastcote, was accused of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual touching on one girl.

The Metropolitan Police said the offences are alleged to have taken place between June and December 2007.

He was also charged with two counts of indecent assault on another girl, who is believed to have been eight at the time, which allegedly took place between 1999 and 2000.

Stringer, who lives in Hertfordshire, was a teacher for several years at Field End School before he resigned.

He quit his job after a parent complained that he had shown the film Shakespeare In Love, which includes sex scenes, to children as young as seven in his drama club.

Police investigated but found no evidence that a crime had been committed.

The drama and class teacher then got a job at Canonbury Primary School in Islington, north London, but was sacked earlier this year.

He was removed after it emerged he was being investigated for showing the film to children at Field End School.

At the time of his dismissal, he said: "The police investigated and dropped the allegations completely. I left (Field End School) because I had serious health issues at the time."

It is understood the alleged sex attack victims came forward after publicity in the local and national media about his dismissal.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said Stringer was released on bail and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on June 4.

Canonbury Primary School, whose pupils include one of London Mayor Boris Johnson's children and a child of Transport Minister Lord Adonis, has had a tempestuous year.

Headteacher Jay Henderson was sacked this month after being caught watching pornography on the internet at work.

Mr Henderson, 35, was also accused of presiding over a lax system of recruitment at Canonbury in which proper references were not obtained.

There is no suggestion that he is involved in any criminal wrongdoing.