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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fred Talbot left job 'over inappropriate comment to boys' | Fred Talbot left job 'over inappropriate comment to boys' |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Ex-TV weatherman Fred Talbot has told a court he resigned from a teaching job because of a "joke" he made to teenage boys who stayed overnight at his home. | Ex-TV weatherman Fred Talbot has told a court he resigned from a teaching job because of a "joke" he made to teenage boys who stayed overnight at his home. |
| Letting the boys sleep in his bed, he said he joked "make sure you leave room for me in the middle". | Letting the boys sleep in his bed, he said he joked "make sure you leave room for me in the middle". |
| Mr Talbot told Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court it led to his resignation from Altrincham Grammar School in 1984. | Mr Talbot told Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court it led to his resignation from Altrincham Grammar School in 1984. |
| The 65-year-old denies ten historical counts of indecent assault. | The 65-year-old denies ten historical counts of indecent assault. |
| The charges relate to five schoolboys between the late 1960s and the early 1980s, during his former career as a teacher. | The charges relate to five schoolboys between the late 1960s and the early 1980s, during his former career as a teacher. |
| 'World collapsed' | 'World collapsed' |
| He told his trial his comment to the boys was "the worst 10 seconds of my life" and he did not know why he said it. | He told his trial his comment to the boys was "the worst 10 seconds of my life" and he did not know why he said it. |
| "It was said as a joke. That was when my world came crashing down," he said. | "It was said as a joke. That was when my world came crashing down," he said. |
| "I can't tell you how low I went. My world had collapsed through my own stupidity. I loved teaching." | "I can't tell you how low I went. My world had collapsed through my own stupidity. I loved teaching." |
| Recalling the evening, he said about 14 fourth-year pupils came to his house to use his telescope during an astronomy session, along with three or four sixth-formers. | Recalling the evening, he said about 14 fourth-year pupils came to his house to use his telescope during an astronomy session, along with three or four sixth-formers. |
| He said he got the impression that two of the boys were "an item" and he initially offered them the use of his spare room. | He said he got the impression that two of the boys were "an item" and he initially offered them the use of his spare room. |
| He denied that he offered to perform oral sex on one of the boys or that he had a conversation of a sexual nature with him. | He denied that he offered to perform oral sex on one of the boys or that he had a conversation of a sexual nature with him. |
| Suzanne Goddard QC, defending, asked him: "Did you become aware that the boys had said something had happened?" | Suzanne Goddard QC, defending, asked him: "Did you become aware that the boys had said something had happened?" |
| 'Bit to drink' | 'Bit to drink' |
| Mr Talbot, giving evidence less than 24 hours after he was injured in a fall from the witness box, said: "Yes, they said I said something inappropriate. It was more than inappropriate, it was a proposition." | Mr Talbot, giving evidence less than 24 hours after he was injured in a fall from the witness box, said: "Yes, they said I said something inappropriate. It was more than inappropriate, it was a proposition." |
| Days later he said he went into the head teacher's office and immediately resigned. | Days later he said he went into the head teacher's office and immediately resigned. |
| In court, he was asked about a diary entry he made relating to the astronomy session in which he wrote: "As usual I had quite a bit to drink. As usual I tried. I must be mad." | In court, he was asked about a diary entry he made relating to the astronomy session in which he wrote: "As usual I had quite a bit to drink. As usual I tried. I must be mad." |
| Mr Talbot said: "There was a sixth former there I liked. Upper sixth." | Mr Talbot said: "There was a sixth former there I liked. Upper sixth." |
| His barrister then asked him about a 1995 entry in which he wrote: "I had a dreadful night. I always feared this would happen." | |
| Mr Talbot told the jury that it involved a News Of The World newspaper reporter who confronted him with the details of his resignation. | Mr Talbot told the jury that it involved a News Of The World newspaper reporter who confronted him with the details of his resignation. |
| No article was published on that subject but instead the tabloid reported he had come out as gay, the court heard. | No article was published on that subject but instead the tabloid reported he had come out as gay, the court heard. |
| The jury has heard police called at Mr Talbot's home in 1992 after one of the complainants in the current investigation first alleged he had been sexually abused by him. | The jury has heard police called at Mr Talbot's home in 1992 after one of the complainants in the current investigation first alleged he had been sexually abused by him. |
| Asked why he had not admitted to the paper a complaint had been made about him, he replied: "I thought it was not in my interests to tell them that." | Asked why he had not admitted to the paper a complaint had been made about him, he replied: "I thought it was not in my interests to tell them that." |
| Miss Goddard asked: "Was that because you had ever tried to sexually abuse any of your pupils?" | Miss Goddard asked: "Was that because you had ever tried to sexually abuse any of your pupils?" |
| He said: "No, I did not try to abuse them. I said something stupid, that was it." | He said: "No, I did not try to abuse them. I said something stupid, that was it." |
| Mr Talbot had earlier told the court how he had sexual activity with one of his alleged victims, saying the boy was 16 and it was consensual. | Mr Talbot had earlier told the court how he had sexual activity with one of his alleged victims, saying the boy was 16 and it was consensual. |
| He also said claims by Stone Roses singer Ian Brown - one of his former pupils - that children were told to masturbate for homework were "utter rubbish". | He also said claims by Stone Roses singer Ian Brown - one of his former pupils - that children were told to masturbate for homework were "utter rubbish". |
| Mr Talbot is best known for presenting the weather forecast on a floating map in Liverpool's Albert Dock for ITV's This Morning programme. | Mr Talbot is best known for presenting the weather forecast on a floating map in Liverpool's Albert Dock for ITV's This Morning programme. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |