August 28, 2020 12.27 pm This story is over 56 months old

Former headteacher to face child sex offences trial

He will face a trial next year

Lincoln Crown Court. | Photo: Kurnia Aerial Photography

A former Lincolnshire primary school headteacher will face trial accused of attempted child sex offences.

James Shawley, 44, who was headteacher at St Bartholomew Primary School in West Pinchbeck, will go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court in the new year.

His trial is estimated to last up to three days.

Shawley was not present for a plea and case management hearing which took place by video link at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, August 28.

But his counsel, Marion Smullen, indicated that Shawley would plead not guilty to all the offences he faces.

Shawley was charged with three offences relating to interactions with a person he did not believe to be over 16, between December 9 and 22 last year.

He was accused of allegedly sending messages of a sexual nature to a 14-year-old, allegedly attempting to incite a 14-year-old into a sexual act and allegedly arranging to meet a 14-year-old boy in Cambridgeshire.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight adjourned the case for trial at Lincoln Crown Court in the week beginning January 4 next year.

Shawley, now of Broad Inge Crescent, Sheffield, but previously of Hereward Street, Bourne, is on conditional bail.

It includes no unsupervised contact with a person under the age of 18 and not to attend St Bartholomew’s Primary School in West Pinchbeck for any reason.