By Patrick Burgess Court spectators sat stunned yesterday as 17 sexual offences -- dating as far back as 1976 and committed against 15 young girls -- were laid against a school teacher.

The charges date from between 1976 and 1999 and are related to his role as a teacher in a public primary school and at a church summer camp.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told the 51-year-old Smith's Parish man he did not have to enter a plea to the charges as he will be tried in the Supreme Court.

The man -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- faces two counts of sexual assault and 14 for sexual exploitation of a minor while in a position of trust, i.e. touching a part of his body to the girl's body.

There is also one count of inciting a girl to touch him while he was in a position of trust.

Many of the charges of sexual exploitation are for "diverse dates'' in particular years for each girl.

Yesterday was the Physical Abuse Centre's tag day and at least six officers from the Police Child and Juvenile Services Department -- in an obvious show of strength -- watched intently, wearing PAC tags.

The Royal Gazette understands the charges are the result of a lengthy investigation against the man by the CJS officers.

Late yesterday Permanent Secretary for Education, Michelle Khaldun said the man had not acted as a teacher in this term.

But she said Ministry officials were still searching records to confirm the date of his last employment.

The full Plea Court session was silent as Mr. Warner read out the charges one by one against the man.

He stood silently, wearing casual clothes and making eye contact with the magistrate.

As in other recent cases, the man faces many of the charges under the old sexual offence laws and penalties, which were changed in 1993.

He was released on $3,000 bail with one surety.

Mr. Warner insisted the necessary paperwork from Police be given to the man's lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher, before the next appearance in two weeks.

He did this despite a request from Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke that Police be given four weeks.

Mr. Warner said: "Even with the number of counts and the obviously complicated nature of the case, this matter should proceed in my court, in any event, as speedily as possible.

"Police have been thoroughly investigating this and should be in a position to proceed rapidly at this stage,'' he added. "I'll adjourn this matter for two weeks.'' Once the process was over Ms Christopher asked Mr. Warner to give "the press some direction with regard to this matter''.

Mr. Warner replied: "The press should know what their rights are. And the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) will prosecute them if they breach the law.'' By law the man and his alleged victims' names cannot be published.

And he can only be named if he is convicted and if his identification will not lead to the identification of any of his accusers.