Winchester College teacher ‘kissed and cuddled pupil’
A FORMER Winchester College teacher kissed and cuddled a male pupil after inviting the student to his home for tea, a court heard.
Simon Taylor, 78, would pet the teenager while “awkwardly spooning” him on his sofa, jurors were told.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Taylor, who taught English and drama at the college between 1990 and 2013, shared a bed with the former pupil after his leaving party. Winchester College, which was founded in 1382, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Britain and charges boarding pupils almost £52,000 a year.
Mr Taylor denies two counts of sex- ual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.
Tim Moores, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court that the alleged offences took place in the mid 2000s.
The court heard that the student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was under “emotional strain” and would visit the teacher at his home for a chat. Mr Moores said: “He alleges that during some of those visits when they were on the sofa the defendant would lean over and kiss him on the lips while cuddling him with his arm around him.”
The court heard that the following school year, he visited Mr Taylor regularly where a pattern developed of being kissed “on at least four occasions”.
Mr Moores said after the student’s leaving party, “they shared a bed and there was sexual kissing”. Because the student was over the age of 18, it does not make up a criminal charge. In May 2021, Mr Taylor messaged his ex-student “out of the blue”. The student made complaints to the police in September 2021.
Mr Taylor was interviewed under caution in February 2022 where he denied any sexual acts of kissing, cuddling or loving the then teenager in any romantic way.
The trial continues.