12:20pm Wednesday 6th May 2009
A 12-year-old girl twice broke down and cried yesterday (Tuesday) as a barrister representing the headteacher of a Pembrokeshire school accused her of lying.
David Bryan Thorley, aged 56, is on trial accused of carrying out 19 sexual assaults on 12 young girls.
A jury at Swansea crown court watched a video interview made by police in which the girl described how a medical difficulty caused her to wet herself.
A supply of clean knickers was kept for her and she told the officer how she went into a room, took off her soiled clothing, applied cream and then put on fresh underwear.
But when she gave evidence in person she told how on one occasion Thorley had put a blue rubber glove onto his right hand and applied the cream himself.
Marion Lewis, representing Thorley, said the girl had never made such an allegation before then. She put it to the girl that, during the video interview she had said, on 13 occasions, that she had always applied the cream herself.
Miss Lewis said she had used words such as "I put the cream on myself," "he did not touch me" and "nobody else put the cream on, just me."
The girl said she was positive the incident happened.
"It left me nervous and shaky. I didn't know whether I should tell my mother," she replied. "I didn't know whether it was the right thing or not."
Miss Lewis said, "What you have told this afternoon are lies."
The girl broke down and said, "No, it's true. I'm positive it was a blue glove. It came from a box in the cupboard."
Miss Lewis put it to her that no gloves were kept in the office and the witness cried again.
During re-examination by Huw Rees, the barrister leading the prosecution, the girl said she considered Thorley to be "a really nice head master" and still felt that way.
She denied making up the allegation to "make things worse for Mr Thorley and to help your friends."
Thorley, of Bryn Heulog, Heol Penlanffos, Carmarthen, denies all the charges against him.
The trial continues.
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