A HEADTEACHER spoke up in court on behalf of a special needs learning assistant accused of indecently touching girl pupils.

Terence Parkinson said Erik Seddon's work when he was an assistant at his primary school gave him no concern.

Seddon, of Westley Drive, Worsley, moved to another school where he is accused of indecently assaulting five girls, aged between nine and 10, as he helped them with their schoolwork.

Mr Parkinson was deputy head at St Ethelbert's RC Primary School, Deane, when Seddon worked there as a special needs assistant before moving to the school where the offences are alleged to have taken place.

Seddon, aged 57, of Cartmel Close, Hunger Hill, who has a bail address in Worsley, denies the charges.

Mr Parkinson told Bolton Crown Court he had known Seddon for eight years and said he was very popular with the children. He was a lunchtime supervisor as well as a special needs assistant.

Mr Parkinson said: "I wouldn't say he was overly tactile with the children. I can say that I wasn't overly concerned about his physical relationship with the children."

Molly Thomas, an NVQ child care tutor, said Seddon was a natural with young children because he listened and talked to them. Mrs Thomas said she had 36 years experience of child care and would recommend Seddon to work with children.

She told the court: "We spent a lot of time discussing how and why children are abused and I never saw him behave inappropriately with children."

Giving evidence, Seddon said when he helped the pupils he stood behind them and put his hands on their shoulders or he knelt beside them. He denied kneeling down next to the girls and using a hand to indecently touch the girls under the desk.

The court heard that Seddon had worked in several schools, and with young people as a cub instructor and scout leader.

He admitted in court that he had been previously warned about inappropriate behaviour towards girls, but said he was naturally affectionate.

(Proceeding)