NICOLAS Cousins, a deputy head of High Wycombe's Royal Grammar School, has been cleared of sexual abuse charges.

Mr Cousins, 52, ex-head of PE at south London's Dulwich College, was accused of carrying out a series of torch-light gropings as boys in his charge lay in their beds at night.

He found out yesterday he will not face a retrial on two charges of molesting pupils at the prestigious private school in the mid 1990s.

Last week a jury cleared the married father-of-four, of Bassetsbury Lane, High Wycombe, of three charges of indecent assault, but failed to reach verdicts on two similar charges.

However, Judge Quentin Campbell allowed the two undecided charges to "remain on file."

Mr Cousins had denied all five charges of indecent assault relating to three teenage male pupils, which were said to have taken place in the 1990s.

It was claimed that he offered to help one boy reduce the swelling in his testicle with a bag of frozen peas under the guise of pseudo-physiotherapy'.

Mr Cousins, pictured left, was also said to have calmed a pupil's fever by washing his genitals with a flannel.

He insisted throughout the trial that they either invented their stories or misunderstood his actions. The former pupils made the claims against Mr Cousins two years ago nearly a decade after the alleged incidents.

Roy Page, RGS acting headteacher said: "This must come as a great relief to Nick, his family and friends who can now hopefully move on with their lives.

"As is normal procedure, Nick was suspended without prejudice from school when we were first made aware of these allegations. We will shortly be discussing his future with him."

Cllr Marion Clayton, Bucks County Council cabinet member for schools, said: "The school, council and Mr Cousins will now discuss his future."

The schoolmaster declined to comment after the hearing.