A PRIMARY school teacher and a senior education official at Bournemouth Council have been charged with offences relating to indecent images of children.

The cases have been investigated separately by Dorset Police and are not linked.

Simon Clannachan 40, of Richmond Park Avenue, Bournemouth, a teacher at Kingsleigh School in East Howe was set to appear before Bournemouth magistrates today. The Daily Echo understands the charges against him relate to 21 counts.

And Bournemouth town hall officer, Robert Ian Finlay, 53, pictured right, who works as a programme leader in the Children’s Services Department, has been charged with making indecent images of children and will appear before Bournemouth magistrates on June 18. Both men are currently suspended.

Kingsleigh head teacher Richard Gower has written to parents offering to meet anyone needing further reassurance.

He said there was no evidence that the alleged offences involved children at the school and no evidence of direct offences against children.

“The school acted immediately on being given the information and the individual has not been back since,” his letter states.

“He was formally suspended pending the outcome of the police investigations and it is anticipated that a dismissal hearing will take place.”

The letter added: “A thorough multi-agency investigation has taken place involving the police, social services, the local authority, our human resources provider and of course the school.

“The school has robust safeguarding procedures in place and all staff are thoroughly vetted before are employed and every three years – it was no different with this individual.”

Mr Finlay is a governor at the Bourne Academy in East Howe. According to his online CV, he taught at the Epiphany Primary School in Bournemouth during the 1990s and taught at Winton Primary School between 1994 and 2000, where he was the school’s ICT co-ordinator.

Tony Williams, chief executive of Bournemouth council, said: “Two members of council staff are currently suspended from their duties, having been investigated and subsequently formally charged by Dorset Police with offences relating to indecent images of children.

“As far as we know, these cases are entirely unrelated other than their concurrent timing. Both cases are currently going through the courts.”

He added: “The council acted immediately on being given the information from Dorset Police. Both staff members were formally suspended and remain so.”