A TEACHER was cleared yesterday of indecently assaulting a girl pupil at the school where he taught.

And as Michael Pendlington left the dock at Teesside Crown Court, the judge urged the school where he had worked for ten years to swiftly reinstate him.

Telling Mr Pendlington he was free to go, Judge Peter Fox told him: "You may leave this court without a stain on your character.

"I would hope that Mr Pendlington be reinstated in his position as head of the geography department, if that is his wish, at the very earliest opportunity and for the beginning of the imminent term."

Mr Pendlington, a teacher for 28 years, was suspended in March last year following the allegations made by the girl that he had indecently touched her in a classroom. He denied two charges of indecent assault.

Mr Pendlington, 51, of Miller Crescent, Hartlepool, told the court he had never been alone with the girl in his classroom.

The jury acquitted him of both charges unanimously and returned verdicts within an hour of retiring.

Following the verdict, Gill Rutherford, of Thompsons Solicitors, which represented Mr Pendlington, said: "He is in an employment position that has to be looked at, and there will be no comment until that employment situation is dealt with."

Alison Stephenson, education officer with Stockton Borough Council, said: "I am pleased for everyone's sake that the legal process is at an end.

"It will now be up to the chair of governors and the headteacher of the school to decide what, if any, further action is appropriate."

Mr Pendlington's union, the National Association of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers, had backed him over the past 18 months.

Alan Porter, the union's acting regional official for the North-East, said: "Clearly we are very pleased that Mr Pendlington has been found not guilty and exonerated.

"We are very concerned for that a long period of time he and his family have been put under tremendous pressure and stress.