A FORMER gymnastics instructor has been charged with a string of child sex offences.

David Schadek, 59, will appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday September 17.

Schadek, of Fenno Close, Colchester, has been charged with seven counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of perverting the cause of justice.

The sexual offences are alleged to have taken place between 2004 and 2017.

Essex Police have asked anyone with information to call Colchester’s Child Abuse Investigation Team on 101.