The trial of a former Wagga High School teacher charged with historic child sex offences has been postponed after more of his former students came forward with allegations.
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John Ernest Spinks, 78, was employed as the Head of English at Wagga High in the 1970s when the alleged offences occurred.
Back in June, Mr Spinks fronted court charged with nine counts of indecently assaulting a former male student between 1975 and 1976.
He pleaded not guilty to all nine counts and was committed to stand trial before Wagga District Court on February 11 next year.
Then, in October, the Director of Public Prosecutions laid an additional 14 charges against Mr Spinks after another three complainants came forward.
He stands accused of indecently assaulting the first on nine occasions, the second on three occasions, and the third on two occasions, all allegedly occurring between 1973 and 1978.
In light of the fresh accusations, Crown prosecutor Andrew Hanshaw sought permission from Wagga District Court to vacate Mr Spinks’s original February trial date.
“After the trial date was set, we have had now four complainants come forward,” Mr Hanshaw explained.
“If we mention the matter again on February 11, I’m hopeful that the other matters may have been able to have made their way to this court by then.”
Mr Spinks is also due to front Wagga Local Court again next Wednesday.
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