HEADTEACHER ACCUSED OF SEX ASSAULT
APRIMARY school headmaster told a woman he had a “schoolboy crush” on her, bought her knickers and sexually assaulted her, a court heard.
Kevin Thomas, 46, who joined Glan-Yr-Afon Primary School in Cardiff as headteacher in 2012, denies the charges against him and he is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said the alleged victim told police his behaviour made her feel “scared” and “uncomfortable”.
The two counts of sexual assault relate to the period between May and August 2015. The complainant cannot be named for legal reasons.
Prosecutors said the alleged victim described Thomas as “a touchy-feely sort of person” and told the police: “He would put his arms around me.”
The complainant stated she “cringed” when he tried to hug her, pushed him away and told him not to do it again.
Mr Griffiths told the court: “It did not stop at that.”
Prosecutors said the woman did not know how to respond because she respected Thomas as the headmaster.
She told the police: “He got a lot more amorous and flirty. I did not want him to fancy me and I most certainly did not fancy him.”
The court heard he sent her emails that became “suggestive” and then “explicit”.
Prosecutors said Thomas called the woman “gorgeous” and “sexy” and told her he had a “schoolboy crush” on her.
The alleged victim told police the messages made her feel uncomfortable and she started to keep a record of them.
Mr Griffiths read out one message which said: “Wish I could have time alone with you.”
In another, the court heard, Thomas asked her for hug and a kiss for Christmas, adding: “I’ve been a good boy this year.”
In a further message, the defendant told the woman he had a “lovely dream” about her wearing white knickers.
She told the police he later bought her a pair of white knickers.
The complainant stated his messages became “sleazy” and he made references to sexual positions.
Mr Griffiths told the jury: “[The messages] became more lewd and explicit.”
Prosecutors said he told the woman he wished they could “cuddle up in bed”, adding: “I want you so much.”
The complainant told the police there was an occasion when the headmaster picked her up by the waist and gave her a “bear hug”.
She alleged he said: “I could kiss this woman.”
Prosecutors allege Thomas touched the woman inappropriately at school in May 2015 on the last day of term.
The court heard she asked him: “What are you doing?” He held his hands up and replied: “I did not do anything.”
She told the police she became more nervous around him, but did not feel ready to report the matter straight away because she regarded him as “a pillar of society”.
The alleged victim said she feared: “It was my word against his.”
Prosecutors say the second sexual assault occurred outside of school in July 2015.
The complainant said Thomas “looked her up and down” and she thought he was going to kiss her. She told the police she pushed him back with both hands and screamed.
She stated he later told her: “All I was trying to do was tell you how lovely you looked.”
The woman decided to report the matter to the authorities after receiving a message she described as “really offensive” and “completely unacceptable”.
She told the police she had done everything she could to “repel” him – she stopped wearing perfume and became conscious about what she was wearing.
The court heard the defendant’s wife accused them of having an affair.
When he was interviewed by the police, Thomas denied behaving inappropriately towards the complainant.
Thomas, from Beechley Drive in Fairwater, denies two counts of sexual assault. He is represented by Byron Broadstock.
The case, presided over by Judge Jeremy Jenkins, is before a jury of six men and six women and is expected to last for four days.