A SENIOR carer has been formally cleared of allegations of cruelty against children at a residential unit for youngsters with autism.

Laurence Donkin was charged with seven counts of ill-treating children in his care at the Carley Hill unit of Thornhill Park School, Sunderland.

He denied the charges and was cleared by a jury on four counts following a recent eight-day trial at Durham Crown Court.

But the jury failed to reach verdicts on the other three allegations and was discharged by trial judge Beatrice Bolton.

She gave the prosecution a week to announce if it intended to stage a retrial on the three unresolved counts.

Prosecuting barrister John Evans told Judge Bolton at Newcastle Crown Court that, "in the interests of fairness to the defendant", it was decided not to pursue the remaining three counts.

He offered no evidence and Judge Bolton recorded not guilty verdicts on all three charges. She also made a costs order to the defence.

Mr Donkin, 44, of Brockenhurst Drive, Hastings Hill, Sunderland, has worked at the unit since 1985, but was suspended after the initial allegations were made in March 2001.

The school gave a statement yesterday following the case.

It said: "The governors and managers of the school accept the judge's decision.

"The school deeply regrets this case and has co-operated fully with the police investigation.

"The well-being of pupils remains the governors' and staff's first priority."

The statement, issued by principal David Walke, added: "A review will be held of the suspension of Mr Donkin and we will be discussing the situation with him."