‘It was just messing about’, says man accused of 21 sex assaults
FORMER SCHOOL WORKER DENIES ALL CHARGES
A FORMER Derbyshire school worker has admitted he touched some of the women who claim he sexually assaulted them, but that what he did was not sexualised.
Darren Bunting said he undid the bra of one alleged victim, but stopped when she told him to and then she “laughed it off”.
He also admitted to pulling a separate accuser onto his lap, but that he was “just messing about”.
And the 36-year-old said he did not remember another incident in which a third alleged victim claims he came up behind her and grabbed her breasts.
Bunting, of Wirksworth, is on trial at Derby Crown Court for 21 counts of sexual assault against four women.
He denies all of the charges. His police interviews were read to the jury with the officer in the case, Detective Constable David Oldfield, reading out the police questions and prosecution barrister Mark Knowles reading out the defendant’s responses.
Asked by the police what he remembered about one alleged incident with one of the women, Bunting replied: “We had been on a night out and I dropped her off.
“I went into her flat as I needed the loo.
“She said she was going to get changed, she was standing in the bedroom and was starting to get undressed, I went to undo her bra and she was laughing at first then she said ‘stop’ and I did.
“I said ‘sorry’ and she laughed it off.”
Asked about a second allegation from a second woman as to whether he pulled her onto his lap, Bunting replied: “Yes.”
He was asked: “Why?”
The defendant replied: “It was just messing about, stuff like that.”
Bunting was asked about an allegation from a third woman in which she told police the defendant grabbed her breast under her bra. He replied: “I don’t remember that.”
The defendant, of Gorsey Bank, is also accused of putting his hand up the skirt of at least one of the women and touching her thigh “making a moaning noise”.
Opening the case on
Tuesday, Mr Knowles told the jury of seven men and five women: “He might say it was tomfoolery, jest and banter, but the crown will say he’s a sex pest and a menace.
“He touched bottoms, (groin) areas, breasts and he accepts some of these incidents but he will say they were not sexual. The crown says they were.”
Mr Knowles said the prosecution allege Bunting came up behind one woman and simulated sex with her from behind “thrusting his crotch against her bottom” and “putting his hands on her hips”.
Mr Knowles said: “The defendant was interviewed by the police and told them he did not touch the (groin) area and could not recall simulating sex.
“He admitted he had probably touched one of the victims’ bottom and thigh, but that is was not sexual.” The prosecutor said Bunting used to work at a school in the Chesterfield area, but resigned when the allegations arose.
The trial continues.
I went to undo her bra and she was laughing at first then she said ‘stop’ and I did.
Darren Bunting in interview