A FORMER teacher jailed for a string of sex offences against children has appealed against his 4½-year jail term.

Philip Walker, 61, who worked at Heathfield Community School and was a former deputy head teacher at Brymore School of Rural Technology, in Cannington, asked the Appeal Court in London to reduce the length of his sentence yesterday.

The court reserved judgement to a date to be fixed.

Walker was jailed at Bristol Crown Court in April after admitting 12 indecent assaults on girls between 1978 and 1988 and another two against boys between 1994 and 1996.

A further 13 alleged offences were ordered to lie on file.