Weatherman ‘told boy he was bisexual then touched him’

TeLeViSion weatherman Fred Talbot told a schoolboy he was bisexual before attempting to molest him during a school camping trip, a court heard.

Talbot, 67, told the boy he had discovered his own sexuality after sleeping with a friend as a teenager.

The alleged victim, who is now 53, said he was on a trip to Moffat, Dumfriesshire, with other schoolboys in 1980 when he had been approached by Talbot.

He said Talbot, who was then a biology teacher at a grammar school in the Manchester area, had quizzed him about sex and asked for details about his girlfriend.

Talbot is on trial at Lanark Sheriff court accused of indecently assaulting nine schoolboys during trips to Scotland. He denies a total of nine charges dating between 1978 and 1981.

A jury heard the alleged victim say he had looked forward to going on the trip and Talbot’s TV career was taking off.

He said: ‘Mr Talbot was quite a young teacher in his early twenties or so and was a very cool guy and we all liked him.

‘i was jealous of my friends who had gone on trips with him to the caledonian canal and was really pleased to be going on this one.’

The court heard that once on the trip, Talbot said he was bisexual and offered to perform a sex act on the boy.

He added: ‘He then went on to explain he was bisexual and told me a story about not knowing that was the case until he was in his teens and ended up in his friend’s bed.

‘He was aware i’d been seeing my girlfriend and was asking about her and my sex life.

‘i was then trying to get to sleep and could feel Fred’s finger on top of my back. i just froze.

‘i felt his hand move down my back and he put his fingers on my hip and then he put his hands

‘I pushed him away’

down my underpants but he didn’t use a lot of force. it was a couple of minutes before it came to an end.

‘i eventually unfroze and pushed him away.

‘The next day he said to me in the pub toilet if i was oK about last night and i said i was fine but not to do it again because i was straight.’

Asked why he hadn’t reported Talbot at the time, the man answered: ‘i’m here to tell what happened to me to try and help others.’

The trial continues.