A FORMER employee of a Harlow school has pleaded not guilty to seven sex offences.

Edward Carl Ryan, 66, of Venmore Drive, Dunmow, will stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, July 6 reports a local newspaper.

The offences include five counts of sexual touching of a girl under the age of 13, one count of possession of indecent photographs and one count of possession of extreme pornographic images.

All offences are alleged to have happened while Mr Ryan was employed at a school in Harlow, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

Those who name the Harlow school could be found to be in contempt of court.

Ryan pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 8.