A WIRRAL primary school teacher has been found guilty of sexually assaulting young girls over eight years.

Charles Ellis, 60, of Oakfield Drive, Upton, Chester was found guilty of ten counts of sexually assaulting young girls between the ages of seven and 10 after a long trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, November 21.

He was acquitted of a further count.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that he abused his position as a teacher by inappropriately touching girls underneath their clothes.

The court heard how the incidents generally took place when a pupil was with Ellis at his desk or on their own.

Several pupils were assaulted on several occasions over eight years, with each incident following a similar pattern and leaving pupils feeling "confused" and "uncomfortable."

Jurors heard how the offences came to light when some of the children told their parents about it while another member of staff had also raised concerns after she had witnessed Ellis in situations with pupils that "seemed inappropriate."

Andrew Creswell, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: “This behaviour exploited the innocence of these children and abused the trust that they had placed in their teacher.

“Mr Ellis did what he did for his own sexual gratification, with no thought of the effect it was having on the children themselves, who didn’t understand what was going on.

“This was a complicated prosecution by the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit of the Crown Prosecution Service, that involved several victims over a number of years.

“The jury have seen through Mr Ellis’s lies and returned guilty verdicts. But, unfortunately, as is often in these types of cases, it doesn’t end here for the victims.

“This could well impact and affect them for the rest of their lives. But hopefully, it will bring them and their families some comfort that justice has been served.”

Ellis will be sentenced on Thursday, December 19.