A MUSIC teacher has been suspended after being accused of sexual offences against two girls at the school where he worked.

Kieran Hope, 32, of Keith Avenue, Wickford, appeared in court and denied two charges of sexual assault between September 2012 and May 2013.

He also denies a further charge of sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 17, while in a position of trust, over the same period.

At the time of the alleged offences, Hope was working at a school in Chelmsford, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

The school has confirmed Hope was suspended as soon as the allegations came to light last May.

During a brief hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, Hope indicated he intended deny all three charges.

He was freed on bail and is next expected to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court ,on June 8.

As a condition of bail, he was told he could not have any contact with either of the alleged victims.

A school spokesman said: “We can confirm Mr Hope was suspended in May 2014, immediately after the matter came to light and he has not subsequently attended the school.

“The school has been co-operating fully with Essex Police and the Essex County Council safeguarding team throughout their investigations and continue to do so.

“We take safeguarding extremely seriously and have appropriate and robust procedures and policies in place.

“When the school was inspected by Ofsted, it confirmed the school’s safeguarding systems and procedures met requirements.

“We subsequently underwent a local authority audit to ensure the school’s systems and procedures were robust and met all the legal requirements.”

The Echo asked Essex County Council to comment, but none was forthcoming before we went to press.