Jury set to decide in headteacher sex case (From Western Telegraph)

Jury set to decide in headteacher sex case

2:27pm Thursday 28th May 2009 in

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A jury is due to retire today (Thursday) to decide whether the headteacher of a Pembrokeshire primary school indecently assaulted five girls.

David Bryan Thorley, aged 56, has been standing trial at Swansea crown court, accused of 11 offences of indecent assault. Part way through his trial Judge Michael Burr dismissed eight similar allegations after deciding there was insufficient evidence.

One girl has described how Thorley took her into the toilets at Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest, after she had fallen and broken her collarbone.

She said he took down her trousers and pants on three separate occasions.

Another allegation is that he inspected the private parts of a girl after she complained of being sore. Two other girls claim that Thorley applied talcum powder to them after taking them swimming.

Thorley told the jury of the devastation caused by the case and of the personal tragedy he had suffered as a result of the allegations. He said he acted properly to children and cared for them according to child protection guidelines.

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