Sex abuse allegations are ‘pure fiction’
A JEWISH teacher accused of molesting two teenage girls described one alleged victim’s tearful courtroom description of an attack in a jacuzzi as “pure fiction”.
Todros Grynhaus, 50, denied touching the girls inappropriately when they were between the ages of 14 and 15, and described the claims against him as “horrific” and part of a “revenge plot”.
The father-of-10 is on trial at Manchester Crown Court and denies five counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.
Mr Grynhaus said in evidence last Thursday that it was untrue he had abused one of the girls in a jacuzzi.
The well-known figure in Salford’s Charedi community described his relationship with his wife of 27 years, Leah, as “fantastic”, adding: “Sex is the grease of marriage to keep things going.”
The jury heard that Mr Grynhaus, the son of influential London rabbi and Beth Din judge Dayan Dovid Grynhaus, had an illustrious 20-year teaching career before starting a direct debit management business in 2008. Its success allowed him to buy a BMW and a Mercedes for his wife.
His cousin, Rabbi Gershon Miller, told the court last week thatMrGrynhaushad admitted the alleged offences. But the defendent said Rabbi Miller’s statement had come following “unprecedented” pressures in the community.
“The community has been split. There are definitely those who support me and are against me on both sides — important rabbinical figures. Our community is led by rabbis.
“Rabbi [Shraga Feivel] Zimmerman is the boss in Gateshead and if he tells you to do something you have to listen.”
Asked if he had ever kissed a teenage girl while sexually aroused, he said: “No, absolutely not.”
The court heard how Mr Grynhaus had attended a session with psychotherapist Jon Pearson. He told the therapist that “interfering” rabbis had insisted he must attend.
Mr Pearson told the jury on Tuesday that he had assured Mr Grynhaus he would not “report back” to rabbis about their session.
He denied using the term “mafia rabbis” in reference to communal leaders. Mr Pearson also confirmed that Mr Grynhaus had explicitly denied any sexual abuse and that he left 25 minutes into the half-hour session.
The trial continues.
‘If the rabbi tells you to do something, you listen’