Matthew Childs, 33, gave evidence during the trial and repeatedly said “no” to claims he rubbed his hands and legs against four fourteen year-olds and a fifteen year-old in his private office at Purley’s Harris Academy.
At Croydon Crown Court the married father-of-two, of Ladygrove, Pixton Way, Forestdale contested claims from the girls that he would squeeze their knees and run his hands up their skirts.
He was found not guilty of seven counts of sexual activity with a child on various dates between January 1 and June 30, 2019.
The geography teacher conceded there may have been unintentional knee-to-knee contact when the girls sat close to him in his office.
While fighting for his innocence Childs told the jury: “It could have happened accidentally, yes. If I was sitting in my chair at the computer and turned around my knee might haver knocked against theirs very briefly, for half a second.”
When asked by his defence lawyer if he had ever accidentally placed his hand on a girl’s knee the vice-principal said: “Not that I am aware of.”
Asked the same question about touching a girl’s thigh Childs emphatically replied: “No.”
On the subject of making physical contact with any children he told the court: “No absolutely not.
“It is not something we would ever do. That is clear through and through and it is not something I would ever do.
“We have clear training and updates.”
When asked if there had ever been any similar complaints during his teaching career Childs replied: “Never anywhere. No.”
He also told the trial it was a rarity to have a behind-closed-doors discussion with pupils in his office.
“The door would be open when they came in. The was open even if I was in there on my own.
“Whenever pupils came in the door always remained open. The door would have been opened all the time.”
Childs said his office door would be closed on the rare occasions a pupil wanted to talk about a sensitive subject.
He also said his open office was directly opposite the office of a female teacher and near the school Principal’s PA.
When questioned during the early stages of the investigation Childs said the first girl had effectively “started a protest” within the school.
The second girl had skipped lessons and confided in him she had sex with a boy in a disused Waddon flat.
“I had to report what she told me. She’s got it in for me,” said Childs.
He said the third girl had “issues in life” and would visit his office “to chat and unload,” conceding it was possible there had been accidental contact when he turned in his chair.
Regarding the fourth girl Childs said his headmaster warned him there was a “possibility” of accidental touching.
Childs said the fifth girl got into shouting matches with other pupils and “would stir it up.”
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