A Shropshire man has died in a road smash on the eve of his trial for sexual offences against children.

Teacher Robert Stringer, 56, who lived in Redstone Drive, Highley, near Bridgnorth, was facing 13 sexual offence charges, including rape, against young girls.

The crash happened when Stringer’s Peugeot saloon collided with a bridge on the A41, near Bourne End, Hertfordshire, at 11.20pm on Sunday.

A witness said that Stringer’s vehicle had been “completely ablaze” at the scene of the crash. Hertfordshire Police today confirmed that a man from Shropshire had been involved in the collision. His trial had been due to begin on Monday.

A spokeswoman said: “For reasons unknown at this stage, a red Peugeot 407 was in collision with a bridge parapet. Sadly the driver, a man in his 50s from Shropshire, suffered injuries which proved fatal at the scene.”

Andrew Dawson, coroner’s officer for Hertfordshire, today said an inquest was opened yesterday and a provisional verdict of death by multiple traumatic injuries was recorded.

Stringer was due to face trial at London’s Isleworth Crown Court, accused of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexually touching a girl, alleged to have taken place between June and December 2007.

He was also charged with two counts of indecently assaulting another girl between 1999 and 2000. Both of the girls were under 13 at the time.

Stringer, who also had a home in Hertfordshire, was a teacher for several years at Field End School, near Ruislip, before he resigned.

A parent had complained that he had shown the film Shakespeare In Love, which includes sex scenes and nudity, to young children in his drama club.

At the time Stringer said the complaints had spiralled out of control. He accused parents of manufacturing claims against him and police found no evidence that a crime had been committed.

The drama teacher then got a job at Canonbury Primary School in Islington, where the children of London mayor Boris Johnson and Transport Minister Lord Adonis were educated.

It is understood the alleged sex attack victims came forward after publicity about Stringer’s dismissal.

By Brett Gibbons