A FORMER Plymouth head teacher accused of 29 indecent assaults on former pupils has been sent to the crown court to face trial.

Neil Dyer, pictured right, aged 70, faced Plymouth magistrates again to answer 20 charges of indecently assaulting children who attended Widey Court Primary School in Crownhill between 1975 and 1983.

He has so far indicated 'no plea' to all of the allegations.

Dyer, of Stokes Lane, the Barbican, is accused of assaulting both boys and girls under the age of 16 in Plymouth, Torpoint and Swindon.

Magistrates had earlier ruled that the case was so serious it had to be heard at the crown court.

He has now been formally committed on all 29 charges to face a judge on July 21.

His solicitor Nigel Lyons said the matters would be 'fully contested'.

Dyer, dressed in a grey hooded top, spoke only to confirm his personal details in the five-minute hearing.

Dyer, who used to be known as Geoffrey Burley, was released on unconditional bail.

Dyer – as Burley – started teaching in 1960 and joined Widey Court in 1971.

He became the school's deputy head teacher and the head teacher in 1983.

Dyer resigned his post in November 1993.

Nobody currently at the school was involved in the police inquiry.