A SCHOOL caretaker has appeared at crown court after claims that he engaged in sexual activity with a pupil.

Paul Stroud was before a judge in Bournemouth after the allegations came to light at Poole High School last month.

The 45-year-old is charged with offences relating to sexual activity with a girl aged under 16.

He has not yet been able to enter any formal pleas.

Stroud, from Day’s Court, Wimborne, wore a pin-striped shirt and trousers and a purple tie in the dock and was told by judge Peter Johnson to return on September 13.

He was released on bail with the same conditions imposed as after his first hearing at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on June 27.

Stroud has been electronically tagged with a curfew of 9pm to 7am.

He must not enter the boroughs of Bournemouth or Poole except for court appearances in Bournemouth or pre-arranged appointments with solicitors.

And Stroud, who has been suspended from his role in the school’s maintenance team, must not contact three female witnesses.

Fan Heafield, headteacher at Poole High School, wrote to parents after police interviewed Stroud and the student involved in the allegations.

She wrote: “On behalf of the governing body I want to assure the community that our policies on safeguarding and recruitment procedures are extremely clear.

“I wish to confirm again to the parents and to all our school community that the governors and I are committed to ensuring a full investigation takes place and that we are continuing to work with all relevant professional bodies and the police to resolve this matter and assist with their enquiries where we are able to.”