A CALSTOCK clergyman has denied sexually assaulting four boys and seven girls, all under the age of 14, when he was working as a primary school teacher more than 30 years ago.

Appearing before Plymouth Crown Court, James Andrew Christopher Wilson, known to his parishoners as the Rev Canon Andrew Wilson, Rector and Rural Dean of Calstock, gave his address as the Rectory, Calstock.

He answered 'Not guilty' to all 11 charges, which cover the period from 1974 to 1980 and relate to 11 individual children.

The alleged offences date back to the time when he was a teacher at Pennycross Primary School in Plymouth, then under the control of Devon County Council.

He was ordained in 1982, but did not become a full-time priest until 1987, shortly after leaving the teaching profession.

Officers from the Sex Offences Investigations Team interviewed alleged victims who are all now adults.

The date of his trial has yet to be fixed, but it is expected to start in September and last around six days.

The Rev Canon Wilson, who is aged 61, was supported by several friends in the public gallery of the court.

He was granted unconditional bail by Judge Francis Gilbert QC.