A FORMER teacher accused of raping a pupil after taking him to his house for extra tuition has been found not guilty by a jury.

Following a four day trial at Bolton Crown Court, a jury cleared 71-year-old Paul Berry of a charge of buggery.

The prosecution had alleged that Berry, who lived in Mountside Crescent, Prestwich in the 1960s, had abused a boy aged between 12 and 15.

The jury was told that Berry, who now lives in Germany, had worked at Ten Acres High School in Newton Heath, which has since closed down.

The alleged victim claimed Mr Berry offered him a lift home, but took him to his own house instead, where he said he had been raped.

Berry, who has had a long career in education, teaching in Germany and Australia, denied the offence, stating that he had no recollection of the boy.

The complainant, now aged 62, alleged that his mother had complained to the school and the police at the time, but the court heard that no evidence could be found of an incident being reported.