The trial of a former Maidstone grammar school teacher accused of theft and intimidation is to be moved out of the county over fears of jury difficulties.

Steve Restarick, who taught sports, was due to be tried at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, May 9 but the case will now be at Inner London Crown Court on that date.

Judge Jeremy Carey said the reason was concerns over prospective jurors having connections with Maidstone Grammar School for Boys, where Restarick was head of PE.

“Secondly, the chance of getting a fixture there are better,” he said. “We are clogged up in May.”

Restarick is alleged to have stolen kit and photocopying paper worth around £25,000 from the school.

He denies theft and abuse of position as head of PE at the school between January 2009 and February 2014.

The 44-year-old, of Sutton Road, Maidstone, further denies three charges of intimidation on April 1 last year.

The theft charges relate to when Restarick was running the Premier Football Club, a summer holiday coaching session, with the grammar school, while also head of PE.

The Barton Road school decided to no longer support the project in 2009.

Restarick was player-coach at Maidstone United after being with a series of clubs, including Chelmsford City.

He played for Gravesend and Northfleet from 1999 to 2001 during his semi-professional career before he transferred to rivals Welling United.