Sexual touching "breached trust" court told (From Western Telegraph)

Sexual touching "breached trust" court told

12:56pm Wednesday 29th April 2009 in

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The headteacher of a Pembrokeshire primary school went on to sexually assault nine girls, it was alleged yesterday (Tuesday).

David Bryan Thorley, aged 56, aroused suspicions after one incident in front of police officers, said Huw Rees, prosecuting.

Thorley, who is currently suspended from his position denies 19 charges of sexual assault.

Opening the case for the prosecution at Swansea crown court, Mr Rees said Thorley had been an experienced teacher for more than 30 years and a headteacher for 22 years.

Mr Rees said during a meeting, attended by social services and police officers, to discuss a particular girl, she sat on Thorley's lap and he pulled down her trousers and pants to show marks on her backside.

Thorley was told by a social worker he should not behave in that way.

The girl's mother became unhappy about what had happened.

Mr Rees said another incident followed when a girl suffered an accident and Thorley drove her directly to Withybush Hospital.

Mr Rees said the girl, who had a suspected broken collarbone, later told police how Thorley placed her in a wheelchair and on three occasions, and without her making a request, took her to a toilet.

She alleged that each time he went into the cubicle with her, he took down her trousers and knickers and stayed with her.

Mr Rees said she also told police she had felt capable of going to the toilet by herself as long as Thorley wheeled her to the cubicle door and unclipped the top of her jeans.

This incident triggered an arrest and Thorley was interviewed. He agreed he pulled down her clothing but said he had given her the toilet paper.

Thorley revealed to police he maintained a "blue book" in which he recorded incidents such as the hospital visit, and said he had made two other such visits in years gone by. But checks showed that while the latest incident had been recorded no note could be found relating to earlier incidents.

But the "blue book" did reveal a host of other incidents, during which Thorley had applied creams and other medication, exclusively to girls, said Mr Rees.

The girls were approached by police. Some told how Thorley had pulled down their clothing to apply cream, one described how he had examined her.

"These are physical examinations of children which the prosecution say were wholly inappropriate," added Mr Rees. "Their parents had not been asked to consent and were not even informed."

Thorley was arrested for a second time. During interviews he admitted the treatments had been applied but he denied there had been a sexual motive or that he had received sexual gratification.

When asked by officers why the patients were always girls, he said boys were too violent.

Mr Rees alleged that Thorley also indecently assaulted three other girls.

Two were allegedly assaulted when he took them swimming and then applied talcum powder to their intimate areas.

During another round of police interviews, Thorley said he handed the talcum powder to the girls and they applied it themselves.

Mr Rees added, "It may well be said that he was a good teacher and a very experienced head teacher. The prosecution would not say otherwise.

"He applied himself with care and thought for the large number of children in his care.

"But he overstepped the mark. We allege that he inappropriately touched all of these girls thereby breaching the trust placed in him as a teacher.

"It is a serious case."

Mr Rees said the actual touching might not be the most serious of cases "but they show an unhealthy interest in young girls."

Thorley, of Bryn Heulog, Heol Penlanffos, Carmarthen, denies all the charges against him.

The trial will resume next Tuesday.