A FORMER housemaster at a boarding school for boys who was accused of indecent assault has been cleared of all charges.

Brian Truan, 80, was found not guilty on nine counts at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Truan had admitted he had bathed a boy, nine, and a boy, 13, at his home in Peldon.

But he denied the bathing was sexual and said he had no memory of ever touching the pair inappropriately.

Truan said he invited the two boys, together with their mother and family, to his home as a friendly gesture, and only bathed the children at the request of their mother.

The former maths teacher was arrested in 1988 amid an allegation he had performed a sex act on a pupil at the school, although he was never charged.

After the boarding school closed in 1992, Truan founded a charity, The Truan Trust, which raises money to help children in Uganda access a better education.

The jury heard how in 2015, fresh allegations came to light after alleged victims shared their experiences at the boarding school on a social media page.

Truan, of Church Road, Peldon, denied all charges against him.