Mother of allegedly abused boy was ‘naive’
A MOTHER whose son was allegedly sexually abused by a substitute teacher and his harpist girlfriend told a trial she had been “naive” and “stupid”.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had thought Richard BartonWood, who taught at her son’s school in the 1980s when her son was in his early teens, was “trustworthy”.
She said she had allowed her son to go on sailing trips and camping trips with Barton-Wood, now aged 68, and to go with Barton-Wood to visit his then-girlfriend Danielle Perrett, now aged 59.
Years later, as an adult, her son spoke to police to accuse BartonWood of sexually abusing him when he was a child.
Earlier in evidence, her son had said he had felt in love with Perrett. Barton-Wood is now on trial at Ipswich Crown Court alongside his former partner Perrett, a world-renowned harpist who has played for the Queen and several prime ministers.
They are accused of sexually abusing the boy in the 1980s when he was in his early teens. They deny all charges.
Perrett, of Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk, denies eight counts of indecently assaulting a boy. Barton-Wood, of Church Street, Wymondham, Norfolk, denies six counts of indecently assaulting a boy, one count of attempting to indecently assault a boy and one of attempting to commit a serious sexual offence.
The trial continues.