A SUPPLY teacher has been remanded on bail by magistrates charged with assaulting a pupil at a Blackburn secondary school.

Richard Paul Paillou, 30, is alleged to have caused a boy pupil actual bodily harm at St Bede's High School, in Livesey Branch Road on April 2, 2003.

The matter was revealed at a preliminary hearing before Blackburn Magistrates Court.

Mr Paillou, of Martinfield Road, Penwortham, Preston, is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He has not yet entered a plea and was remanded on bail until February 6.

Mr Paillou was being employed at the school through Capita, a company responsible for providing supply teachers in the borough.

Today a spokesman for Capita confirmed the allegation related to St Bede's High School last year.

He added: "He is a Capita supply teacher who had gone through the full vetting procedures.

"He has not yet entered a plea and everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We do not want to comment on his current employment status at this stage to avoid causing any prejudice of the case."

A police spokesman said the alleged incident took place on the afternoon of April 2, 2003, and that it involved a boy pupil.

Des Callaghan, deputy head of St Bede's, said he could not comment on the matter because of the legal proceedings.