Ex-Wales rugby player Mathew Back not guilty of assaulting pupil

Speaking outside court Mr Back said: “I feel vindicated.

“It’s been a torturous three years for everyone involved. I’ve just very pleased I can finally sleep at night now.”

The jury saw CCTV footage of the incident in which Mr Back said the child expressed “huge aggression to female staff.”

He told the jury that the child tried to grab his female colleagues’ genitalia, and his aim was to protect teaching staff.

Mr Back said when pupils had high levels of aggression, it was “not always possible” to follow methods outlined in “Team Teach” guidelines for controlling behaviour.

He said he took hold of the child “on his torso under his armpits” using what is known as the “caring C” technique to control and move limbs.

Mr Back won four caps for Wales as a full-back in 1995 and played club rugby for Pontypridd as well as Bridgend, Swansea, Bristol and Aberavon.