Perry Beeches headteacher Liam Nolan speaks of sex case shame.

Apr 24 2010 by Jane Tyler, Birmingham Mail

A GAY Birmingham headteacher has spoken for the first time of his shame at being accused of “cottaging” at a Midland beauty spot.

Liam Nolan, head of Perry Beeches School in Beeches Road, Great Barr, was convicted by a jury of outraging public decency in June 2007 after being caught with another man at Sandwell Valley country park, near West Bromwich.

He was also reprimanded by the General Teaching Council.

But three years on, he told BBC WM he maintained his innocence and said the incident had driven him to the brink of suicide.

Mr Nolan, aged 42, transformed Perry Beeches from a failing school to “most improved” status this year with all pupils leaving with five or more A*s at GCSEs.

But he admitted he would always be remembered for his alleged sexual trangression after being arrested by two undercover policemen who claimed they witnessed him involved in sexual activity with another man in the park. Mr Nolan, who earns around £64,000 a year and lives in Birmingham city centre, said he left work at his previous school in Wolverhampton early on the day in question because he had a migraine.

“I drove past Sandwell Park and was desperate for some air,” he said.

“I stopped by a bush to have a wee and from the bushes came two undercover police officers claiming I had had been involved with another man. I will always deny that.”