A DEPUTY headteacher walked free from court yesterday after being cleared of raping and indecently assaulting girls in his care at a special school.

Lawrence Giardelli, 58, was found not guilty of two counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault on three girls at the now closed Hengrove School in St Leonards, near Wendover.

The teacher, the only male resident carer at the boarding school for girls with behaviour problems, was accused of having sex with pupils, taking them from beds into the classrooms or his room for sex almost 20 years ago. He was also accused of indecently assaulting the girls, aged 14 and 15, in a swimming pool, on abseiling equipment and in beds.

During the two-week trial, he had told the court the school had a policy of open affection which included giving the girls presents and that hugging, soothing pupils by stroking arms and legs. He added sitting on teachers' laps was encouraged by headteacher Alexander Gobells to calm girls down and reassure them.

Mr Giardelli, of Pembrokeshire, West Wales, beamed as the verdicts were returned at Reading Crown Court after more than three hours of jury deliberation.

His second wife Marcia, who was a housemistress at the school, cried as she heard the verdicts.

She said after the case: "The verdicts speak for themselves. We have friends praying for us back at home in Wales. We can get back to normal now."