THE case against a teacher who faced court for a second time charged with sex offences has been halted by a judge.

Robert Michael Pendlington, who was head of geography at a Teesside school, had been accused of six offences of indecency against children.

However, the six charges, four of indecent assault and two of gross indecency, have been stayed by Judge Peter Bowers at Newcastle Crown Court.

He ruled that the 52-year-old, from Miller Crescent, Hartlepool, could not have a fair trial following the widespread publicity surrounding the first trial in August last year.

The case was transferred to Newcastle Crown Court following national and local publicity after Mr Pendlington was acquitted by a jury at Teesside Crown Court of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

Mr Pendlington denied any such incidents ever took place.

A jury took just an hour to acquit him and Judge Peter Fox told him that he could leave court "without a stain on his character."

A spokesperson for Newcastle Crown Court confirmed that the case against Mr Pendlington had been stayed.

Judge Bowers ruled that under Article Six of European Human Rights legislation, Mr Pendlington's defence would be "seriously prejudiced" and he would be unable to get a fair trial.

He was charged with the further assaults shortly after being acquitted last year.

Five of the charges, three of indecent assault and two of gross indecency, were all alleged to have taken place between January 1980 and July 1982, and all involved the same female complainant.

The sixth charge alleged an indecent assault on a second girl between 1975 and 1976.

A spokeswoman for Stockton Borough Council said: "We cannot comment at this stage, other than to say that Mr Pendlington is not in school at present."

Mr Pendlington was yesterday unavailable for comment.