Two charges of indecent assault against a boarding school teacher were yesterday dismissed during his trial at Worcester Crown Court.

The judge dismissed two charges against Colin Wheeler, 42, who faces 22 other charges of indecent assault brought against him by former pupils.

The former headteacher of Bredon School, near Tewkesbury, and a former England under 16 rugby manager, has been giving evidence for the first time during the seventh day of his trial.

He told the jury that the 15 photographs of naked boys found in his bungalow were mostly pictures of pupils taken on rugby tours, which were later confiscated to protect their modesty.

Wheeler also denied he had any sexual contact with pupils or that he was interested in small boys or that was a homosexual.

He said: "I have a very satisfactory relationship with members of the opposite sex.

"I'm baffled as to why all these boys have come to court and said what they have," he added.

However later, as prosecutor David Iles summed up the case, he branded Wheeler as a "liar".

The trial continues.

This story was first published in the Gloucester Citizen.