A FORMER religious education teacher cleared of indecently assaulting a pupil who blackmailed him said today: "Hopefully I can start living again."

Neil Turpin, 66, formerly a teacher at Hollins High School, Accrington, and of Victoria Avenue, Chatburn, was found not guilty by a majority verdict on three charges of assaulting the pupil between September, 1990, and December, 1992.

Mr Turpin wept when the verdict was given at Preston Crown Court. He said after the verdict: "I have been absolutely devastated. My life has been ruined.

"I thank the good Lord it is over and, hopefully, I can start living again.

"I also thank my colleagues, former pupils, family and friends for all the massive support they have given me."

Mr Turpin had been about to retire from the Hollins Lane school on the Thursday before Christmas in 2000. But he was suspended the day before after a former pupil went into the school to make a complaint to head teacher Frank Havard.

The court heard how a week earlier the pupil had contacted Mr Turpin and asked to meet with him.

The teacher, who was also involved with sports at the school, said he met the alleged victim and later drove him to a pub in Clayton-le-Moors at his request.

During the journey Mr Turpin said the ex-pupil told him he could get him in trouble for what he did at school.

Mr Turpin asked what he meant and he replied that the teacher had touched him sexually.

Mr Turpin, said he was panic-stricken and asked: "Is this about money?"

The former pupil said he had been thinking about a figure around £2,000 but after some discussion, Mr Turpin wrote a cheque for £1,500.

Rani Kaur, defending, told the court that demanding money by menaces and blackmail were criminal offences designed to test people like Mr Turpin. She said the pupil had been an aggressive bully who told an unknown amount of lies.

She also reminded the court how the alleged victim in the case had previously served three years for grievous bodily harm, had injunctions brought against him for the protection of others and had been given four and a half years for rioting where petrol bombs were thrown at police, which resulted in officers plus members of the public, being injured.

She said: "He needs to be in control, to dominate people's lives and he had to be the boss at all times.

"Mr Turpin was the best person for him to pick on as he is a gentle gentleman who would do anything for anybody. "He knew Mr Turpin would be vulnerable and the kind of person who could be easily intimidated."

"Mr Turpin was supposed to be retiring and enjoying the rest of his life. All he was asking for was peace and quiet so he could go and work on his allotments.

"The man has never wronged anybody -- they broke the mould when they made Mr Turpin."

Before making their decision, Judge Peter Smith reminded the jury there had been a number of inconsistencies in the alleged victim's evidence and that he had admitted lying to them about another 'victim.'

He told them Mr Turpin had been described as a deeply religious man who was the sort of person who could be taken advantage of.

Mr Frank Havard, head teacher of The Hollins Technology College, as it is now called, said: "Mr Turpin must be relieved that this case has now come to an end."

Miss Kaur said no charges of blackmail would be brought against the former pupil as Mr Turpin wanted to lay the matter to rest.