A FORMER teacher at a school in North Somerset has been charged with a range of sexual offences against children.

Former Sidcot School teacher Keith Ruby was today charged with 21 offences against two victims including sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity and indecent assault.

The Mercury understands some of the allegations are related to a former male pupil at the school.

Since the allegations surfaced last June, Ruby has been on bail, and was forced to surrender his passport to the police.

Speaking last year, former headteacher John Walmsley said he was ‘deeply concerned’ with the news that a former teacher was to be investigated, but he reassured parents that the school employed strict child safeguarding measures.

Ruby, who is 35 and from Biddisham, will now appear at Taunton Magistrates Court on February 1.