A FORMER Ribble Valley mayor and a past governor of Strangeways prison have spoken out in support of a public school teacher accused of abusing his pupils.

The former mayor, John Travis, gave evidence in the trial of Robert Francis O'Brien who has denied six charges of indecent assault.

The 57-year-old father of five, of Kemple End, Hurst Green, denies all the charges.

Defence barristers at Preston Crown Court read over a dozen letters from people who are supporting the former headmaster of St Mary's Hall prep school, in Hurst Green. And one of the character witness letters came from Brendan O'Friel the governor in charge of the Manchester prison at the time of the infamous riots in April, 1990.

All the attacks are alleged to have taken place at the preparatory which is linked to the exclusive Stonyhurst College.

The victims were all boarders at the school and aged between ten and 13 at the time they claim they were abused.

Two of the witnesses claim they were assaulted in the early 1970s and two in the middle of the 1990s.

John Travis, a former headteacher who works at Stonyhurst, was called to give evidence by the defence. Mr Travis was mayor of the Ribble Valley in 1993.

He said: "I find it impossible to see how in any circumstances the allegations that have been made could have any truth in them.

"I am proud to act as a referee for Rory O'Brien and to be his friend."

The judge was due to sum up the case today before sending out the jury of seven women and five men to consider their verdict.

(Proceeding)

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