Teacher denies sex allegations (From Swindon Advertiser)

Teacher denies sex allegations

7:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News

AN ENGLISH teacher kissed two female pupils and stroked one of them on her thigh, a jury has been told.

James Walsh abused his position of trust to have sexual activity with the teenagers, the younger being just 15, when he was at work at a Swindon school, Swindon Crown Court was told.

The claims against the 50-year-old teacher came on the first day of his trial, where he denies any wrongdoing.

Anne Brown, prosecuting, said: “It is appropriate that teachers deal with their pupils in way that is non-sexual.

“There is a clear black and white line across which a teacher does not cross.

“The prosecution say this teacher crossed that black and white line with two pupils.”

She said as time went on he became more and more familiar with them, and they may have been flattered by the attention.

“They, no doubt, held him in some awe and some esteem as a teacher,” Miss Brown said.

The first girl was 16 years old and doing A/S Levels when she said she went to see Walsh about shortening an essay she had written in June 2009.

In the past, the child said he had commented on how nice she looked, in particular complimenting her on her bottom.

They sat next to each other in a classroom with a younger child working in the corner when she said Walsh started smirking at her.

She said she then felt his hand running up her leg and she thought ‘whoa, what are you doing’, and tried to end the session.

But even as she bent over to pick up her things she said he made a comment about her backside.

A year later he gave her a lift home from school as it was snowing and, as he dropped her off, he kissed her on the cheek.

Meanwhile Miss Brown said a 15-year-old student claimed she was also being paid a lot of attention by Walsh.

The girl said he told her he fancied her and liked his relationships ‘sizzling’, telling her he would get that word into lessons, which she said he did.

One day in December 2010 he asked to see her in his office where she said he touched and rubbed her hand as he spoke to her.

As he walked her back to lessons she said he took her through a corridor, which needed his swipe card for them to gain entrance.

The teenager said while there he opened a cupboard door and kissed her full on the mouth, putting his arms around her waist.

She said she was scared and the next day saw him giving the older girl a lift and, thinking he may be flirting with other pupils, told a teacher.

The police were called and when he was questioned Walsh denied the allegation and said he had not done anything wrong.

Walsh, of Robinson Road, Gloucester, denies three counts of sexual activity with a child by position of trust.

The trial continues.