A FORMER primary school teacher appeared in court charged with a string of sexual offences against two schoolboys.

Lloyd Dennis, 32, faces a total of 28 separate offences, including rape and sexual activity with a child.

He taught at a number of primary schools across Hampshire before becoming a lecturer in health, social care and education at the Basingstoke College of Technology, in Worting Road.

Dennis, wearing a grey, round neck jumper and green chinos, appeared at Southampton Crown Court via video link and is set to face a four-day trial in September.

He spoke only to confirm his name during the five minute hearing.

Judge Nicholas Rowland remanded Dennis, of Eastleigh, in custody and told him he will next appear before court in June for a plea and case management hearing.

Dennis faces charges including the rapes of a boy under 13 and of a boy under 16, sexual assault by penetration and six counts of engaging a child in sexual activity.

He also faces a number of charges of making indecent images of children and possessing indecent photos of a child.

Dennis taught at a number of schools including Bishop’s Waltham Junior School and Cadland Primary School in Holbury on the outskirts of Hampshire’s New Forest.

All of the schools have been informed of his arrest and contacted by police.

Darren Campbell, headteacher at Bishop’s Waltham Junior School, said in a statement: “The welfare of the pupils at the schools is our absolute priority.

“If I, or any of my team, are notified of any concerns, they are investigated thoroughly in accordance with Children’s Services Safeguarding Guidelines.”