A FORMER teacher has appeared in court today charged with 22 offences relating to the alleged sexual abuse of pupils at two schools, one of which is near Kidderminster.

Jonathan O’Brien, aged 55, of Fairfield Road, Bosham, West Sussex, was brought before Chichester Magistrates Court facing ten charges of gross indecency, ten counts of indecent assault and another two of indecency with a child.

O’Brien was arrested yesterday by detectives from West Mercia Police and charged last night.

Twenty of the charges are alleged to have been committed against seven male pupils at Winterfold House School in Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, between 1980 and 1985.

The remaining two charges are alleged to have been committed against one pupil at The Oratory School, near Reading, between 1985 and 1989.

O’Brien was conditionally bailed by Chichester magistrates to appear again before the same court on April 10.