A 50-YEAR-OLD Weston primary school teacher has been denied bail following allegations that he filmed himself abusing a girl in his classroom.

The individual, who the Mercury cannot name for legal reasons, appeared via video link for a hearing at Bristol Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He was remanded in custody.

He first appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges two weeks ago, charged him with two counts of abusing a position of trust, and two of sexually assaulting a girl aged six to eight.

He was arrested after a seven-year-old pupil told her parents he had been touching her inappropriately in class.

The Mercury cannot name the school, also for legal reasons.

Thirty officers assigned to the case – which has been declared a ‘major incident’ by police – searched his home, computer and classroom.

They confiscated 20 memory sticks, and prosecutor Kelly Marshall revealed one of them contained video footage of a man, which police believe is the teacher, touching a youngster inappropriately during class.

Experts believe the footage was filmed from underneath a school desk.

The teacher will appear at Bristol Magistrates Court again, via video link, on January 19.

The man denied all allegations when he was interviewed by police, but has yet to enter a formal court plea.