Former East Yorkshire headteacher cleared of indecent assault

Clifford Stott from Skirlaugh was found not guilty of 8 counts of indecent assault against two boys by a jury at Hull Crown Court today.

Published 22nd Apr 2016

A retired primary school head teacher from Hull has been cleared of historical indecent assault.

69-year old Clifford Stott was found not guilty of eight charges against two boys after a nine day trial at Hull Crown Court.

Mr Stott of Rise Road, Skirlaugh wept as the jury foreman delivered the verdicts.

He was the former head at Paull Primary School and had always denied the charges - telling the court one complainant was an attention seeker and the other was a liar.

Clifford Stott said on the two occasions he took the boys into his bedroom on school educational visits nothing sexual happened and he had done so because the children were unwell or homesick.

Stott’s eldest complainant was in court, with his wife, and shrugged his shoulders as he walked out.

The publication of a campaign group to clear his name on Facebook was referred to the judge after it criticised the prosecutor’s closing speech as “painting the worse possible picture” and “using smoke and mirrors.”

Judge Jeremy Richardson, QC, said: “The website did not assist in any shape or form. The observations were offensive, inaccurate and should never have been made at all. I shall now consider whether to send these documents to the Attorney General.”