A TOP public school headmaster was due in court today to face a charge of assaulting a dog walker.John Sinclair, 55, principal at Finborough School near Stowmarket, of one of East Anglia's most prestigious independent schools, has denied a charge of common assault.

A TOP public school headmaster was due in court today to face a charge of assaulting a dog walker.

John Sinclair, 55, principal at Finborough School near Stowmarket, of one of East Anglia's most prestigious independent schools, has denied a charge of common assault.

It is alleged that Sinclair, who lives in Great Finborough, assaulted a fellow dog walker, on a footpath in woodland near the school.

The offence is alleged to have taken place on September 24 last year.

He was due to appear before magistrates at Mildenhall this morning.

The alleged offence did not happen in the school, of which he is still at the helm today.

In June, the case against Sinclair was adjourned to fix a date for the trial, which is expected to last half a day.

Finborough School in the village of Great Finborough is a boarding and day school for pupils aged between two and 18. Its motto is Ad Summa Nitimur Strive for the Highest).

An Independent Schools Electorate Report states the school has around 170 students and charges an annual fee of between 2,550 and 9,600.

Founded in 1977, it moved to its current site in 1980. The girls' and boys' sections of the school were amalgamated in 1986, before Mr Sinclair bought out the rest of the shareholders in 1992 becoming principal soon afterwards. The school is based in what was once Finborough Hall, a former manor house which dates back to the late 18th century.