£160,000, 16-week trial clears the tickling teacher

Prosecutors claimed Richard Matthews was touching the pupils, aged seven to 12, for sexual gratification.

But a jury agreed with the 35-year-old's case that he was being targeted for his tactile and friendly manner at school.

After the trial, which cost £160,000, he said the teaching profession was under siege from similar malicious complaints.

"I have gone through two years of hell waiting to prove my innocence," he added.

"I am guilty only of doing my job. When I touched a child it was only in the proper context.

"It was more than just a profession for me. It was a way of life. I gave 200 per cent. My motives were pure.

"My thoughts were always on the welfare of the children. I didn't think people were going to turn and put a knife in my back."

Mr Matthews was cleared of 21 charges of sexual assault and four of indecent assault.

The inquiry began when a mother overheard two girls gossiping about the teacher.

The woman went to the police when the girls told her that Mr Matthews was "a bit pervy" and "touches pupils and tickles them".

Two more girls claimed to have seen Mr Matthews touch a pupil's breast - an incident denied in court by the girl herself.

The jury at Hull Crown Court was told this claim "poisoned the well" and more "victims" came forward saying they had been cuddled, touched or tickled.

Mr Matthews gave accounts for each of the alleged incidents between 2002 and 2006, denying there was any sexual motive.

He said he was tactile and would often put an arm around boys and girls in the playground.

One former pupil, now 14, told the court he tickled her and three other girls "to make us feel better".

Another girl of ten, who was tickled on her tummy, said: "I thought he was just playing about."

Anton Lodge QC, the Recorder, told Mr Matthews he would leave the court with his good character intact.

He backed the jury's not-guilty verdicts at the end of the 16-day trial, adding: "That in my view is the correct version of events."

Mr Matthews, from North Ferriby near Hull, had told the court: "It isn't just about teaching kids to read and write in school, you have almost got to be a parent.

"If I thought for one second something I had done to a child caused them discomfort I would be upset. It was all in context, all friendly and there was no malice in it. I did not change my behaviour when adults were there. I had nothing to hide."

He said he had been suspended from his £45,000-a-year job and did not feel able to resume his teaching career.

He added: "It is a profession under siege from malicious complaints.

"I had to personally deal with a similar situation before it happened to me with a member of staff accused of assaulting a child.

"I was in charge of a meeting with the social services, some of them were reacting almost with glee at the prospect of the allegation being true. It wasn't."

Mr Matthews taught at Bude Park School and Craven Primary School in Hull.