A TEACHER who faced a court ordeal when three pupils accused him of indecent assault has been reinstated.

Peter Hewson, of Church Close, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had been suspended from his design technology post since July last year, when the girls made their accusations.

But, after almost a year of turmoil, Mr Hewson has been reinstated at the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

After deliberating for 40 minutes, a jury at Teesside Crown Court threw out allegations that Mr Hewson had indecently assaulted two 12-year-old girls, and a 13-year-old.

At the end of the trial, Judge Peter Fox, QC, said Mr Hewson could walk away without a stain on his character.

The governors at the school were required by law to formally review their decision regarding his suspension before taking any action.

A spokesman for the school said yesterday he understood that Mr Hewson was involved in negotiations with the headteacher about returning back to work.

"The governors have written to him to reinstate him, and in their letter they highlighted the judge's comments that he did not have a stain on his character," said the spokesman.

Mr Hewson has been married for more than 30 years, and said after the court case that he wanted time to rebuild his life, and to spend some time with his wife and children