Former headteacher on child sex charges

A PRIMARY school principal carried out a string of sexual attacks on young girl pupils, a jury has heard.

The 47-year-old headteacher showered one victim with gifts, telling her she was the “prettiest in the school”, leading her to think of him as her boyfriend, the prosecution claim.

In the dock at Oxford Crown Court was Christopher Field, of Green Lane, Chieveley.

He denies perpetrating a series of sex offences on two girls aged under 13 years in his care while headteacher at Woodcote Primary School, Oxfordshire.

Mr Field previously worked at Goring Primary School and Kennet Valley Primary School in Calcot, although there is no suggestion of any impropriety there.

Oxford Crown Court heard how one of the girls said she started wearing crop tops to impress Mr Field because she thought of her headmaster as her boyfriend.

He told her she was special and pretty while he indecently assaulted her in a variety of ways, said Rebecca Austin, prosecuting.

She said that hugs in the playground progressed to private meetings in Mr Field’s office during break times, after which he would ask: “Are you coming for a cuddle at lunchtime?”

Serious sexual assaults then took place in his office, the prosecution claims.

Mr Field is also charged with possessing child pornography.

The jury heard that Mr Field will lay the blame for that on his two sons.

He denies three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 years, one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

Pick up a copy of the Newbury Weekly News this Thursday for more, plus updates from the trial.