A TEACHER has resigned from a Runcorn secondary school after appearing in court charged with indecently assaulting under-age boys.

David Reaper, who taught technology at the Grange Comprehensive, appeared at Northwich Magistrates Court accompanied by his wife Eila on Thursday.

His case was deferred until July 31, when he was ordered to return to Court 1.

Dressed in smart shirt and trousers, Mr Reaper spoke only to confirm he understood his case was to be put back to give a new solicitor more time to study the details.

Mr Reaper, a former Vale Royal borough councillor and parish councillor for Kingsley, resigned from both councils the day before he first appeared in Northwich Magistrates Court earlier this year.

The 56-year-old, of Westbrook Road in Kingsley, who represented Weaverham for 10 years during the 1970s and 1980s, was charged by police in relation to an alleged incident in Runcorn between September 1, 2000, and May 31, 2001.

The second charge is in relation to an alleged incident in Helsby on May 16, 2003.

The alleged victims cannot be identified for legal reasons.

M Reaper, who has not yet entered a plea, is also charged with one count of indecently assaulting a male aged 16 or over in Runcorn on December 17, 2002.

He was granted bail on condition that he reports to a police station once a week and does not contact the alleged victims or their families.

He was also told to live at an undisclosed address in North Wales and not to enter the Grange Comprehensive School.

The former Liberal Democrat councillor has two children.