THE headteacher of a North-East primary school has appeared in court charged with sexual offences against children.

Richard Whitfield, the headteacher of Toft Hill Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, appeared before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe this morning.

The 54-year-old, from Snowdrop Way, Etherley Dene, faces 19 charges under the sexual offences act 1956.

He faces 13 accusations of indecently assaulting a girl under 16, between January 1, 2000, and April 30, 2004.

He also faces two charges of sexually touching a girl under 16, two of inciting a girl to commit an act of gross indecency and a further two allegations of intentionally causing or inciting a girl to engage in non penetrative sexual activity. Those offences are alleged to have occurred on or around May 1, 2004, in Bishop Auckland.

Mr Whitfield withheld his plea and the magistrates declined jurisdiction.

The case was adjourned back to the same court on December 17 for committal to crown court and Mr Whitfield was granted unconditional bail until his next court appearance.

Education authority, Durham County Council, confirmed that Mr Whitfield, who is a married father, was suspended from the post he has held since the mid 1990s in July.

The council said the investigation does not involve any pupils, past or present.