A FORMER teacher has told jurors he neither assaulted nor mistreated pupils while working at a residential school.

Five ex-staff members at Witherslack Hall, Grange-over-Sands, face charges alleging the physical abuse or cruelty of boys during the 1970s and 1980s. All of the men - now aged 62 to 78 - deny the respective charges they face.

The oldest, 78-year-old Roger Whitehouse, gave evidence to jurors at Carlisle Crown Court on Monday.

Whitehouse, of Sea View, Haverigg, had worked at Ambleside’s Brathay Hall centre before the “prospect of improving behaviour” prompted a transfer into special education.

He was the first staff member employed at Witherslack Hall, which opened in 1972, later becoming deputy head.

Witherslack owner, the late John Horner, was ‘dominant, aggressive and assertive’ , the court heard.

But by contrast Whitehouse said he spoke loudly to boys only “very rarely”, saying: “I was prepared to be assertive without necessarily raising my voice in the way he did.”

Whitehouse admitted being “strict” but said he “really disliked” that he was “typecast as an enforcer” by others.

“I didn’t stand any nonsense.

“The kids were there because of their behaviour. I did my best to control that behaviour in a reasonable way,” he stated.

He later added: “I think the boys felt if I said something I meant it.”

Whitehouse insisted he never struck pupils with a plimsoll, as alleged, nor ordered anyone to stand outside in snow wearing only PE kit.

“There has been an awful lot of talk about punishment. In my opinion it is all entirely wide of the mark,” he told jurors.

“What we did do on an institutional basis was what all parents did with their children: to encourage the sort of behaviour that you want, and discourage the sort of behaviour you don’t want.”

Whitehouse denies two charges alleging assault and one alleging child cruelty.

The trial, now in its fourth week, continues.