Teacher on trial for underage sex claims he didn’t understand girl’s ‘winking’ emoji

A MUSIC teacher accused of having a relationship with an underage student claims he did not understand her “winking” emoji, a court heard.

Gareth Parry, 38, claims he was left baffled by the basic emoji sent in messages from his accuser. Mr Parry told Newcastle Crown Court that he had no idea what the smiley and winky faces on the end of some messages meant.

He also claimed he had not noticed love hearts and kisses in other messages. He admitted the messages were “inappropriate”.

Mr Parry, who has denied six charges of sexual activity with a child, admitted talking to the underage girl about underwear, being in bed and Valentine’s Day.

However, Christine Egerton for the prosecution, told jurors Mr Parry had been “caught out” by the exchange. “You were playing hard to get,” she told the defendant. “You were enjoying what was happening and were prompting [the exchange]. You were loving it, weren’t you?”

Mr Parry denied that he was, and told jurors he didn’t have a relationship with the girl, claiming: “I didn’t fancy her.” On Tuesday the court heard Caroline Mead, the Cleveland Police officer leading the investigation, didn’t check out one of Parry’s alibis – citing an “oversight” as the reason.

But on the seventh day of the trial, the Crown pushed Parry on the messages, which Miss Egerton claimed gave him a “thrill”. He admitted there were points when he continued to message her after she called him “sexy” and “babe”, in which he accepted he should have probably stopped.

Miss Egerton alleged: “The truth is you wanted that to continue.”

Parry, of Ingleby Barwick, Stocktonon-tees, replied that he did not.

The trial continues.