He was charged earlier this year
David Henry Shelly Wright arriving at Bristol Crown Court(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach Plc)
A former teacher at a prestigious Bristol boys’ school has pleaded not guilty to fourteen counts of historical alleged sex offences against boys under the age of sixteen.
David Henry Shelly Wright, of Longwell Green, is alleged to have committed the offences in the 1980s and 1990s while working at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital independent school in Clifton. He was a teacher, a boarding master and a later a non-teaching employee at the school.
Appearing at Bristol Crown Court on Monday (June 29), 79-year-old Wright said he was innocent of all the charges against him. Dressed in a dark suit and allowed to sit, rather than stand, in the dock due to his age, Wright clearly responded ‘not guilty’ to each of the fourteen charges as they were read out one by one.
Wright was released on bail. His trial has been scheduled to begin on November 15, 2027.
Her honour judge Anna Richardson set a pre-trial hearing for May 28 next year, and reminded Wright he needed to attend that as well as the full trial.
“Thank you judge,” was all the former teacher said before he was permitted to leave the courtroom.
Wright was charged with the offences in May after a six-year-long police investigation into his alleged conduct at QEH.
The private boys’ school teaches an age range between seven and 18, with more than 750 pupils currently on roll. Its fees range from £14,976 per year for junior pupils to £22,245 a year for senior students and sixth formers.