A VICAR and former primary school teacher has been sent to Crown court to face 11 charges of indecently assaulting children.

The Rev Canon James Andrew Christopher Wilson, the Rector and Rural Dean of Calstock, faced a district judge at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court accused of indecently assaulting boys and girls between 1973 and 1980.

District judge Paul Farmer committed Wilson, aged 61, to stand trial at Plymouth Crown Court.

He has indicated not guilty pleas to all the allegations.

Wilson, of The Rectory, Sand Lane, Calstock, is charged with committing indecent assaults on four boys and seven girls. He appeared in court supported by several fellow-clergymen and members of the public.

Wilson, smartly-dressed and bespectacled, was ordained in 1982 but did not become a full-time priest until 1987, shortly after leaving the teaching profession.

He was released on unconditional bail until February 22, when he is due to appear at the Crown court.