THE deputy head of an Oswaldtwistle school walked free from court after being cleared of allegations of sexually assaulting three of his pupils.

Friends and colleagues of John Cartmell punched the air in relief as the jury delivered their unanimous not guilty verdict after just an hour's deliberation.

Speaking outside the Preston Crown Court, Mr Cartmell, 51, of Manchester Road, Hapton, Burnley, said: "I am massively relieved that this ordeal is finally over.

"I am absolutely delighted that the full truth has come out after more than two-and-a-half years."

Mr Cartmell, a teacher at St Mary's RC Primary School in Oswaldtwistle, had denied three charges of indecently assaulting boys on dates before September 1999.

It had been alleged that he had tried to put his hands down the pants of two boys and also tried to rub his knee against another boy's groin.

In his evidence Mr Cartmell, who has been a teacher for more than 30 years, said the suggestion he had any sexual interests in his pupils was "absolutely unbelievable."

He said the thoughts had never crossed his mind in all his teaching career. Claims by student teacher Jacqueline Nolan that she had seen Mr Cartmell put his knee into a boy's groin were dismissed.

Mr Peter Birkett QC, defending, said she had made up the allegation after failing her teaching practice at the school.

Earlier learning support assistant Karen Sidebottom said she had overheard a group of boys, including one of the boys who made the false allegations, plotting to tell their parents that Mr Cartmell had assaulted them.

It is not known whether Mr Cartmell, who has been suspended from his position since the allegations were made, will now return to teaching.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We have received the verdict of the Court and now need to review the information that came to light during the case.

"It is too early to say what the final outcome will be but clearly we now need to discuss the situation with Mr Cartmel, his representatives and the School."