EXCLUSIVE

By Michael O’Halloran and Eric White

A HARLOW teacher is set to attend court after being charged with a number of sex offences.

Edward Ryan, aged 66, of Venmore Drive in Great Dunmow, answered bail on May 5th.

He was charged with the following:

Six charges relating to the sexual touching of a child under the age of thirteen.

One charge of making an indecent image of a child.

One charge of being in possession of extreme pornographic images.

He is due to attend at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on June 8th.

Essex County Council (ECC) has issued the following statement.

Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “We take the safety and wellbeing of pupils in Essex extremely seriously.

“Mr Ryan has not been used as a tutor at the school since the allegations came to light.

“Given legal proceedings are now active, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

A spokesperson for the school (which YH is not naming) said: “The safety and wellbeing of the pupils is of paramount importance and the school has robust safeguarding procedures in place.

“Mr Ryan worked as a tutor at the school from September 2012, He has not worked at the school since the allegations against him first came to light and the school has cooperated fully with the police investigation.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further while legal proceedings are active.”