Salisbury teacher guilty of sexual assault

Tuesday, 16 March 2021 00:00

A retired teacher has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting boys at the prestigious Salisbury Cathedral School.

Piers Le Cheminant faces charges over alleged incidents between 1965 and 1986, including at another school.

The 75-year-old, of Newton Abbot, Devon, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court via video link when he denied the 15 offences of indecent assault against 13 boys aged under 14.

He was released on unconditional bail for his trial which was listed to take place on January 24 2022, and is expected to last four weeks.

The judge, Recorder Paul Garlick QC, told the defendant, “Your trial will now take place in January next year so your counsel can stay in the case.

“You are on bail, it’s an obligation that you attend your trial on the date fixed. Should you not attend you do realise the trial may proceed in your absence and you may be committing a criminal offence.”

The prosecution follows an investigation by detectives from the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit.

Salisbury Cathedral School dates back more than 900 years and is located beneath the spire of the cathedral.

It is one of the oldest educational establishments in the world and was founded in 1091 by St Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury and nephew of William the Conqueror.

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