A FORMER Hampshire teacher has been charged with a catalogue of sex offences against children.

Lloyd Dennis, 32, has been remanded into custody after being charged with 28 offences which include rape and sexual activity with a child.

Dennis taught at a number of schools across Hampshire including Bishop’s Waltham junior school, Cadland primary in the New Forest and Holy Family Catholic primary partnership in Southampton.

According to police the charges relate to two victims but the detective in charge of the inquiry urged people to come forward if they had any information that they believed could help the ongoing investigation.

Detective Constable Sarah Fox said: “These charges are in relation to a number of incidents involving two victims. Our investigation into the circumstances surrounding these incidents continues.

“If you have any information which may assist this investigation, please contact police as possible by calling 101.”

Dennis was a Year 5 teacher at Bishop’s Waltham Junior school for almost three years before he left in 2010 to take up a post at Cadland primary school where he remained for a year and a half.

He then taught briefly at Bitterne Park primary and Sinclair primary in Southampton during 2012.

Dennis then took up a post in Basingstoke.

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council, as the Local Education Authority for Bishop’s Waltham junior and Cadland primary, confirmed they had been made aware of the investigation and were working with the police and that safeguarding officers were supporting schools involved.

Darren Campbell, Head teacher at  Bishop's Waltham Junior School, and Gerida Montague, head teacher with overall responsibility for the schools affected in Southampton, both issued statements confirming they were aware of the charges.

They said: “The welfare of the pupils at the schools is our absolute priority and if I, or any of my team, are notified of any concerns, they are investigated thoroughly in accordance with Children's Services Safeguarding Guidelines.”

Dennis, of Sopwith Road, Eastleigh, will appear before Southampton magistrates to face the charges on April 24.