A teacher who carried out a string of sexual assaults on teenage boys in his care has started a three-year jail sentence.

Paul McCann was working at Eastbourne Comprehensive School, in Darlington, and ran one of the football teams when he was arrested in January.

But the school's acting headteacher, Eamonn Farrar, has assured parents that none of the offences took place at the Eggleston View school, but during his previous posts.

The 39-year-old PE teacher abused youngsters for more than 12 years while he taught at schools in Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire.

The abuse, which took place between 1991 and 2003, came to light when one victim told his mother what had happened.

Hampshire Police launched an investigation which led them to McCann, after he had moved from Wokingham to Copley in Teesdale, County Durham, last year.

Mr Farrar said: "The police contacted the school and told us of their investigation and that they were going to remove him from the site. When they came to collect him, he ceased to be a member of staff.

"We immediately launched an internal investigation.

"As he was in charge of a football team, we interviewed every member and are confident that no incidents happened during his time here. He had also passed criminal checks before he joined us.

"The children's well-being is our main priority and we take whatever measures necessary to ensure their safety."

McCann lured his victims, aged 13 to 16, to his home on the pretext of measuring their progress or giving them sports massages, Southampton Crown Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to 13 charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.