WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Derek Barker, 92, denies eight sexual offences against four boys at a school where he taught in the 1970s and 1980s. His trial continues at Bristol Crown Court
A boarding school teacher “orchestrated” the rape of a pupil by an older schoolboy, a court has heard. Derek Barker, 92, is accused of pleasuring himself while watching the alleged forced encounter.
Barker denies eight sexual offences against four boys at Monkton Combe School in Bath, Somerset, when he taught there in the 1970s and 1980s. Bristol Crown Court heard evidence from the first complainant in the case on Wednesday.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told police in a video interview played to jurors on Tuesday that he had been instructed to visit Barker’s flat by a fellow pupil.
Upon his arrival, an older boy was already there and directed the complainant to remove his trousers under the pretence of massaging his leg, before then pulling down his underwear, he said.
“I was terrified by this time, I couldn’t believe what was happening, especially not with a teacher there,” the man told police. “I couldn’t, I didn’t understand why. I sound stupid really saying about that, but I didn’t comprehend it.
“I was so surprised, so unexpected and so out of my depth and after a bit the boy took his clothes off and he proceeded to rape me. It hurt and I was frightened, I knew it was wrong but there was nothing I could do. I could see Mr Barker was enjoying himself. He was masturbating while he watched this.”
Following the alleged ordeal, Barker is accused of instructing the boy to get dressed and return to his classes, which he duly did. The man further claimed to police that the abuse was carried out on several subsequent occasions.
Barker is facing three charges of buggery, accused of “aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring” the buggery of the complainant by an older boy – who died before police launched an investigation. The charges relate to legislation in force at the time, which predated the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Tabitha Macfarlane, defending Barker, stated he denies being present during the alleged incidents, denies masturbating and denies orchestrating what took place. The complainant told the court on Wednesday: “It took place in his flat in the school.
“I couldn’t have been there – it was a private flat – unless I had been invited and nor would [the older pupil] have been there unless he had been invited. How could these two boys have been in his flat if he hadn’t given an invitation? It doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.”
When questioned about earlier statements he had made regarding the alleged abuse, in which Barker wasn’t mentioned, the man explained his reasoning. He said: “He wasn’t abusing me. He was present and he built the setting, made it possible, so I would say orchestrated it, but he didn’t do anything physically to me.
“It would have been dishonest to say that he had. I don’t think it is right to suggest anything which isn’t true. He facilitated it by allowing it to happen in his private flat within the school, but it was not him that did anything to me.”
The complainant, who contacted police in 2022, told jurors he had wanted an apology from Barker but had not received one. “I didn’t want to go to the police, I didn’t want a court case like this, I didn’t want more trauma for me and no doubt anyone else who is involved,” he said. “I have lived with the effects all my life, I didn’t want to have salt rubbed into the wound. I just wanted acknowledgment.”
Barker resigned from the school in the 1980s, citing ill health, after he allegedly asked another pupil to tie him to a bed wearing just his underwear. Jurors were told the pupil took a photograph of Barker, which was developed in the school’s photographic lab and removed by another teacher.
Barker, of Limpley Stoke, Somerset, denies three charges of buggery, three charges of indecency with a child and two charges of indecent assault.
His trial, in front of Judge Euan Ambrose, continues.
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