Neil Beckett: School social worker guilty of sexual assault

Eleven teenagers filed charges against Beckett.

Nine were students of Lagan College and two were army cadets.

Beckett was found not guilty of rape, which allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2015 while he was an army cadet commander.

He was also found not guilty of sexual contact with a child and 10 further counts of sexual assault.

During the trial, which lasted five weeks, the court heard from Lagan College students and army cadets who testified that Beckett hugged them, kissed them, touched their thighs under the girls’ skirts and tickled them.

The court said that by doing so he made them feel uncomfortable.

The judge thanked the jury for their involvement in what he described as a long trial and said they discharged their duties with great care and attention.

Beckett will be sentenced on December 6.