A former care worker was today cleared for the second time at the Court of Appeal of abusing two boys in 1980.

Anver Sheikh, 56, was in court to hear Lord Justice Hooper and two other judges quash his conviction.

Mr Sheikh was first found guilty in 2002 at York Crown court for the "historic" sex abuse claims involving buggery and indecent assault against two boys in his care while he was a housemaster at a North Yorkshire children’s home.

He was jailed for eight years but his conviction was overturned in February 2004 by Court of Appeal judges.

At that time he was released on bail, but a retrial was ordered and he faced a jury for a second time.

In January last year Mr Sheikh was convicted again following the second trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Today that conviction was quashed after the judges heard submissions on his behalf from Patrick Cosgrove QC.

The Crown, who had opposed the appeal, said it would not be seeking a retrial.

Mr Sheikh’s solicitor, Mark Newby, said after the hearing: "This case demonstrates the danger involved in such cases. There could be another 50 cases which should be making their way to the Court of Appeal."

Although the court had not yet given its reasons for today’s decision, the judges were "clearly worried" by the case, he said.

The Historical Abuse Appeals Panel (HAAP) said that they wanted a public inquiry to look at all care home cases as they have "the same dangers of someone being wrongfully convicted without documentation or evidence to prove it".

A spokeswoman said that they were currently reviewing at at least 15 more cases involving care home workers.

In a statement HAAP said some of the false allegations against carers and teachers were "compounded by the complicity of the police in failing to carry out a fair and independent investigation".

"Today, justice has finally been done for Anver Sheikh and he can return to his family from whom he was cruelly separated on two separate occasions.

"Very serious questions indeed are raised by the plight of Anver Sheikh and the many other appellants who still fight for their liberty."

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