A RETIRED teacher has gone on trial accused of the historic sexual abuse of three of his former pupils.

Anthony McNally faces four charges relating to his employment at Derby Grammar School in Bury and later Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom.

Minshull Street Crown Court, sitting in Bolton, heard McNally, now 72, carried out an indecent assault on one complainant while he gave her a lift home from a party.

McNally faces two charges against a second male pupil, who he is said to have indecently assaulted on consecutive days during a school trip to the Lake District. Another indecent assault, allegedly involved a second male pupil.

Geoff Whelan, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution say three, apparently independent, complainants detailing abuse of them by the defendant is strong evidence.

"That abuse took place under the auspices of the defendant’s teaching responsibilities and was therefore a gross breach of trust.”

The court heard from the first victim, who described herself as being a “loner” at school when McNally was her English teacher.

She said during a party, which would have been in the summer or for Christmas, McNally offered her a lift home and during this trip carried out the indecent assault.

The court heard she had first spoken to Crimestoppers in the year 2000 and given an interview to police about her experience after hearing about allegations about McNally on the radio.

Rick Holland, defending, pointed to differences between her account then and her police interview, which the jury was shown.

In 2000 Mr Holland said she told the police McNally had kissed her, but she told the court that did not happen as far as she could remember.

Mr Holland asked if she accepted she may not be able to recollect what happened.

She replied: “I do not think so” but later said she could not be sure which year it took place in.

The court also heard from the second complainant, who said McNally “abused” him twice on consecutive days of a school trip to the Lake District.

He said they were sharing a room together along with another pupil, and the first time McNally struck he was alone in the room and the next time he struck the other boy was on top of a bunk bed so was unable to see what was going on.

This complainant also spoke to police in 2000 after reading allegations in newspapers.

Mr Holland said his statement in 2000 did not contain two separate allegations.

He said the original statement was not inaccurate but did not contain everything he had wished to say.

McNally, of Rhine Close, Tottington, denies all the allegations against him.

The trial, before Recorder Abigail Hudson, continues.