A former teacher has been charged with a string of sex offences against teenage girls, including rape, online grooming and child exploitation.

Thomas Gander, 32, is accused of 17 offences against victims from Croydon, Godalming and online between April 2013 and November 2015.

The former maths teacher, of Warrington Road, Croydon, appeared at Guildford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He is charged with:

• Two counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of rape a girl aged between 13 and 15
• Engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15
• Two counts of engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15
• Four counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity with penetration
• Causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity without no penetration
• Two counts of causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child aged 13 to 17
• Two counts of possessing indecent image of a child
• Meeting a girl aged under following grooming

Mr Gander was charged following an investigation by Surrey Police.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Guildford Crown Court on September 20.