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| Head teacher 'abused boy on trip' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Wrexham primary school head teacher has gone on trial charged with sexually assaulting a pupil. | A Wrexham primary school head teacher has gone on trial charged with sexually assaulting a pupil. |
| Christopher Barker, 45, head of Ysgol Tan y Fron, denies five charges. | Christopher Barker, 45, head of Ysgol Tan y Fron, denies five charges. |
| On the first day of the trial, Mold Crown Court heard Mr Barker developed an "unusually close and affectionate relationship" with the child. | On the first day of the trial, Mold Crown Court heard Mr Barker developed an "unusually close and affectionate relationship" with the child. |
| Among incidents between January and December last year, Mold Crown Court heard that Mr Barker is accused of assaulting the child on a school trip. | |
| John Philpotts, prosecuting, said one incident of abuse happened at night during a residential school trip when the child was found wandering in a corridor. | John Philpotts, prosecuting, said one incident of abuse happened at night during a residential school trip when the child was found wandering in a corridor. |
| There is no rational explanation for the child to make these allegations other than the fact they are true John Philpotts, prosecuting | There is no rational explanation for the child to make these allegations other than the fact they are true John Philpotts, prosecuting |
| Mr Philpotts told the court: "Mr Barker found the complainant awake and out of bed. | Mr Philpotts told the court: "Mr Barker found the complainant awake and out of bed. |
| "The boy said he was trying to get to sleep and his mother usually tucked him in. | "The boy said he was trying to get to sleep and his mother usually tucked him in. |
| "He took the boy to his own room and initially put him in a separate single bed." | "He took the boy to his own room and initially put him in a separate single bed." |
| Mr Philpotts said Mr Barker noticed a while later that the boy was still awake, so he moved him to his own bed where the sexual assault took place. | Mr Philpotts said Mr Barker noticed a while later that the boy was still awake, so he moved him to his own bed where the sexual assault took place. |
| The court was told that on another night of the trip, Mr Barker, from Dodleston, Cheshire, went into the boy's room and sexually assaulted him again as the child lay in his bunk bed. | The court was told that on another night of the trip, Mr Barker, from Dodleston, Cheshire, went into the boy's room and sexually assaulted him again as the child lay in his bunk bed. |
| Mr Barker, who has been head teacher at the school for the past nine years, is also accused of sexually assaulting the child during a one-to-one lesson. | Mr Barker, who has been head teacher at the school for the past nine years, is also accused of sexually assaulting the child during a one-to-one lesson. |
| The court was told Mr Barker had ignored advice for teachers to hold one-to-one lessons in public areas. Instead, the hearing was told, he took the boy to a secluded room. | The court was told Mr Barker had ignored advice for teachers to hold one-to-one lessons in public areas. Instead, the hearing was told, he took the boy to a secluded room. |
| The pupil gave evidence via a video link. | The pupil gave evidence via a video link. |
| Broken zip | Broken zip |
| Mr Barker is also accused of sexually assaulting the boy while helping him put on his jumper. | Mr Barker is also accused of sexually assaulting the boy while helping him put on his jumper. |
| Mr Barker was arrested after the boy told his mother about another incident in which he said Mr Barker sexually assaulted him as he was fixing a broken zip on the boy's trousers. | Mr Barker was arrested after the boy told his mother about another incident in which he said Mr Barker sexually assaulted him as he was fixing a broken zip on the boy's trousers. |
| Mr Philpotts told the jury there was no way the child could have made up the allegations as they were too detailed. | Mr Philpotts told the jury there was no way the child could have made up the allegations as they were too detailed. |
| He said: "Sadly there is no doubt that in many ways Mr Barker is an effective, caring teacher. | He said: "Sadly there is no doubt that in many ways Mr Barker is an effective, caring teacher. |
| "But there is no rational explanation for the child to make these allegations other than the fact they are true." | "But there is no rational explanation for the child to make these allegations other than the fact they are true." |
| Mr Barker denies all five allegations against him. The case continues. | Mr Barker denies all five allegations against him. The case continues. |