THIS teacher has appeared in court charged with child pornography offences and has been suspended from his job at a York school.

Nicholas Reuben Rowley, of Alma Terrace, Selby, faces nine charges of making indecent photographs of children and one charge of possessing indecent photographs of children.

Rowley, 25, is an information and communications technology teacher at the Joseph Rowntree School, in Haxby Road, New Earswick. The offences were allegedly committed in Selby between August 18 and October 17, 2004. Rowley made his first appearance in court at Selby yesterday. He did not enter a plea and the case was adjourned until 10am on Thursday, May 12.

Rowley, who lives in a flat in the street, which is in Selby town centre, was granted unconditional bail.

It is understood that Rowley was interviewed and arrested by detectives from Selby CID.

The news was broken to hundreds of parents by head teacher Hugh Porter in a statement.

Rowley was suspended from the school in October last year, when the police investigation began.

Mr Porter said: "He will appear in court shortly and will plead not guilty to the charges. He denies them strongly."

Mr Porter stressed that the alleged matters under investigation had no connection with the school.

"Mr Rowley has been on precautionary suspension from the school since October 2004 during the investigation. I realise that this will be of great concern to parents," he said.

Mr Porter said Rowley completed vetting procedures before joining the school in September 2003 and said the Local Education Authority was monitoring the case.

He said: "We have taken steps since October to secure a suitable replacement teacher for Mr Rowley's classes and this will continue to be the case."

Speaking in court, Collette Dixon, prosecuting, said it was the first time of hearing and the adjournment would enable the defence solicitor to take instructions from the defendant.

Joseph Rowntree School has 1,349 pupils on roll.

Updated: 09:35 Friday, April 15, 2005