A school caretaker forced an eight-year-old pupil to perform a sick sex act on him on school grounds, it is alleged.

The 43-year-old man also carried out a serious sexual assault on the girl at the school, in Lambeth, prosecutors claim.

The shocking attacks are alleged to have taken place at the school on June 22 last year, but charges were only brought against the alleged paedophile last week.

The Clapham man appeared in a magistrates’ court last week, charged with the two sexual offences on a girl aged under 13.

He was released on bail to appear at crown court in May.

The caretaker, alleged victim, and school cannot be named for legal reasons.

But parents with children at the school were informed by a letter from the headmaster after the allegations were first made, days after the alleged attacks.

The caretaker was immediately suspended by the school.

Police have remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the alleged attacks and their subsequent investigation.

A police spokeswoman said the victim had not been in the UK for long when the alleged attacks, reported by a family member, are said to have occurred.

The investigation is understood to have taken 10 months to bring to court because of special measures taken when a young child is alleged to be the victim of a sexual attack.

The caretaker was arrested when the allegations were first made but bailed while police investigated. He was charged after routinely reporting to police for the third time.

The school’s headmaster declined to comment when approached about the incident. He only confirmed the suspension of “an employee” following the allegations.

The school carries out its own Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on staff.

A Lambeth Council spokesman said: “We take these allegations seriously and we will do everything we can to work with the school if they require advice and will assist the police when they carry out their inquiries with the school.”