A school principal who quit his job for “personal reasons” earlier this month has been charged with five counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16.

Marcus Barker, 54, of Lakeside Drive, Surrey, became principal of Ashcroft Technology Academy in Putney in 2007 and has been in the role for the last ten years.

The charges, which he pleaded not guilty to on Thursday, April 27 at Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court, relate to historical allegations from more 30 years ago.

The offences are alleged to have happened over the course of three years in the 1980s and are believed to pre-date his becoming a teacher.

A trial is scheduled to begin on May 26 at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.