Shropshire Star

Former Shropshire headteacher, 95, in court over child sex abuse

A 95-year-old former Shropshire headteacher has appeared in court accused of committing a string of sex offences against children between 1954 and 1979.

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Jack Mount, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, made separate appearances at both Birmingham Magistrates' Court and the city's Crown Cour today.

The former head of the privately-run Brookside School, near Craven Arms, is alleged to have committed 32 sexual offences against six girls and six boys.

Twenty-eight charges relate to allegations of sexual abuse against boys and girls said to have occurred in South Shropshire between 1967 and 1979.

The pensioner, who was born in May 1919, spoke only to confirm his age and address during a brief appearance at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

The lower court agreed to a request by prosecutor David Devine for Mount to appear at the Crown Court on the same day due to his age and the nature of the alleged offences.

Mount, of South Molton, Devon, faces nine counts of rape, six of gross indecency, nine of indecent assault, and eight other sexual offences.

One of the offences is alleged to have been committed in Barnsley, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the mid-1950s, while three are alleged to have occurred in Birmingham between 1957 and 1962.

The remaining 28 charges relate to allegations of sexual abuse against boys and girls said to have taken place in south Shropshire between 1967 and 1979.

Mount, who denies all the charges, was granted unconditional bail to reappear at a plea hearing in January.

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