A trial date has been set for an ex-girls’ grammar school teacher, charged with historic allegations of grooming and sexually assaulting a pupil.

Carly Dear, 45, who taught PE at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, pleaded not guilty to all seven counts against her at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday.

A trial has been set for 10 months’ time, on September 27.

Explaining the delay, Judge Catherine Brown said: “I can’t fix it any earlier because of the pressures on the criminal justice system.”

Judge Brown added: “We have a huge backlog, particularly of defendants who are in custody.”

In a previous court hearing, Kellie Williams for the prosecution said: “This is essentially an historical allegation of grooming and sexual assault of the complainant by a school teacher.”

Ms Williams said the alleged victim had become a target for grooming by Dear, who used to live in Holdenhurst, Ashford.

Dear left the Buckland Road school in 2005.

During Monday’s hearing Mohammed Bashir, for the defence said Dear, of Thatcham, Berkshire, was not currently working as a school teacher.

It emerged that pupils and staff may have to potentially give evidence during the trial, which is expected to last for two to three weeks.

A further case management hearing was arranged for May.

Mr Bashir asked whether Dear could be excused from attending in person, as she has a brother with Down’s syndrome and is “effectively shielding for this moment.”

However, Judge Brown said that as the hearing was more than six months away, notwithstanding new guidance, she would be expected to be there.

Dear entered not guilty pleas to five counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16, one count of abusing a position of trust by having sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 17 and another count of abusing a position of trust, by causing or inciting sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 17.

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