THE jury in the trial of a highflying head teacher accused of sex offences against a teenage boy has failed to reach a verdict.

Jurors were discharged after 10 hours of deliberations in the case of Anne Lakey, chief executive of the County Durham Federation of Schools.

A seven-day trial at Durham Crown Court heard allegations that Ms lakey conducted a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy in the late 1980s, when she was in her late 20s.

The 54-year-old, of Oxhill Villas, Stanley, denied four charges of indecent assault and two of encouraging a child to commit an act of gross indecency.

However, this morning the foreman of the jury told Judge Christopher Prince that there was no prospect of reaching a majority verdict.

Ms Lakey was bailed to return to the court next Friday to hear whether the prosecution plans to request a retrial.