A FORMER gymnast trained by a coach cleared of sexual abuse told a tribunal yesterday she had never seen him touch children inappropriately.

From the age of 15, Vicky Gray, 32, was trained by Paul Wells four times a week, until she became a coach.

"Throughout this time I never saw Paul handle children in an inappropriate way," she said.

Mr Wells, 63, is fighting for compensation from Newcastle City Council after an earlier tribunal ruled he was unfairly dismissed.

His 20-year coaching career came to an end when he was sacked - five months before he went on trial to face six indecent assault charges.

After being cleared at Newcastle Crown Court in July 2000, Judge Maurice Carr told him he could walk away without a stain on his character.

Earlier this week, social services bosses told the tribunal that, because of the weight and nature of the allegations, they believed he still "posed a risk" to children.

Mr Wells, of Chapel House Estate, Newcastle, said earlier this week: "The actions of Newcastle City Council have stopped me trying to rebuild my life and career."

Gill Rutherford, a legal executive of Thompsons solicitors, in Newcastle, worked closely with the Wells family before the trial.

In a statement to the tribunal she said: "Considering that Mr Wells was employed as a trampolining and gymnastics coach it comes as no surprise that he would have had to touch them."

The tribunal will deliver its judgement at a later date.