by MATTHEW NIXSON

A controversial campaign by a national newspaper to identify child sex offenders has stirred up grim memories in Barnet.

Barry Elliston was featured in the News of the World on Sunday ,, 14 years after being jailed for indecently assaulting teenage boys in the borough.

Mr Elliston was forced to resign as headteacher of Hendon School in Golders Rise, Hendon, after being arrested in January 1986. He had previously run Finchley Manorhill in North Finchley ,, now The Compton ,, for ten years, and the charges provoked outrage.

Mr Elliston was eventually jailed for five years after pleading guilty to nine indecent assaults of former pupils over a seven-year period.

Retired teacher Peter Southwell, who worked at Finchley Manorhill, criticised the News of the World's decision to name and shame Mr Elliston.

He said: 'It's all water under the bridge. The poor chap has done his time. We're all good Christians aren't we?

'We were all very upset at the time. It was absolutely shattering. We spent a lot of time looking back and saying we should've known.'

The Times Group was unable to contact Mr Elliston, who is believed to be living in Hertfordshire, at the time of going to press.

The News of the World has been roundly condemned by Ministers and law enforcement agencies for publishing details of sex offenders in the wake of the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne. Critics of the campaign say it will encourage vigilantes and send paedophiles into hiding.