Teacher Carr not guilty on all charges

NEIL CARR, the teacher accused of sexually touching young boys, has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Twelve jurors in the trial returned this morning to deliver their majority verdicts on the final four charges - finding him not guilty on all  20 counts of sexual assault.

Mr Carr (25) and his supporters shed tears of joy as the courtroom ordeal finally came to an end.

The verdicts, staggered in announcements across the week, tested the resolve of the young teacher's family who were surrounded by supportive parents from the school at which he taught.

Mr Carr's mum ran over to the dock in tears as her son was released, following gasps of relief from the public gallery.

A relative of one of the accusers leapt up after the announcement, shouting before storming out.

The verdicts put an end to the rollercoaster trial that has seen tears shed and tensions raised as the community was torn in two.

The prosecution argued the seven boys who made the allegations had been sexually touched by Mr Carr, who in some instances was said to have crouched down at their desks before slipping his hand over their privates.

Carr, who trembled with nerves as the final verdicts were read out, was steadfast in his denial of what he deemed ludicrous accusations.

His defence lawyer argued that a savage group mentality had seen vicious rumours spread among the boys that was then furthered by the parents.

Judge Timothy Mort said to the jury: "There were huge problems whichever way this case was going to go. You've been conscientious and done anything you can in this case."

He described the case as emotionally intense for the jurors, adding that it must have been a terrible ordeal for them to sit through.