THE identity of a primary school teacher convicted of molesting pupils can be revealed.

Neil Salisbury was found guilty on three counts of sexually assaulting two girls at St Margaret's CE Primary School, School Road, where he taught.

Naming the 52-year-old is a legal victory for the Warrington Guardian as we had previously been unable to identify him due to reporting restrictions.

Retracting the teacher's anonymity, Judge Roger Dutton said: "He was a school master and they were his pupils.

"It is not the most serious, but in the circumstances it is in the public interest to report it."

Sailsbury, of Malpas Drive, Great Sankey, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday where the Crown Prosecution Service decided he would not be re-tried on four other charges after a jury were unable to reach a verdict.

The Warrington Gymnastic Club coach was also found not guilty of molesting a 12-year-old girl during the trial at Warrington Crown Court on July 21.

A parent of one of the victims said: "We are glad this is over and out in public. We are sad it has come to this but he had to be stopped.

"Mr Sailsbury preyed on innocent children for his kicks and it is disgusting."

The court heard that the teacher had joined the Orford school six years ago.

The married father of two who had been teaching for 35 years, was found to have touched the legs and bottoms of the nine-year-old girls when he was arrested last June.

The parent added: "What saddens us is that we have been forced to sit down and explain to our 10-year-old daughter that what he did to her is wrong.

"It's good that at the moment she doesn't fully understand, but one day she will. He has stolen the innocence from those children."

Salisbury was forced to sign the Sex Offenders' Register and banned from working with children again.

He will be sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on August 25.

Norma Cadwallader, strategic director for children's services, said: "Mr Salisbury was suspended immediately following a serious allegation in July 2005.

"Throughout the investigation we have ensured that the children, parents and school have been made aware of support services available. Safeguarding our children is our highest priority."