Winchester College teacher kissed teenage boy on lips, court told
A drama teacher at a private boarding school regularly kissed and cuddled a teenage pupil who visited him at his home, a court has heard.
Simon Taylor, now aged 78, is charged with two counts of sexual activity with a boy, abusing a position of trust.
The retired Winchester College teacher, of Bermondsey, London, gave "full-blown kisses on the mouth" to the boy in 2005 and 2006, prosecutors said.
The father of three denies the charges at Winchester Crown Court.
Tim Moores, prosecuting, said the defendant invited the boy for "tea and a chat" on several occasions.
After several visits, the complainant said Mr Taylor "tentatively leaned into him, threw an arm around him and kissed him on the lips... three or four times", the court heard.
The teacher repeated the kissing and "awkward sideways spooning" on the sofa on other visits and told the boy he loved him, Mr Moores told the jury.
The boarding school pupil did not resist or reciprocate and continued to visit the house in Kingsgate Street because it "met his psychological needs", the court heard.
In video evidence, the complainant said he was "emotionally vulnerable" at the time.
He added: "I do think that Simon believes he was doing me good,... that he was being supportive at a time when I needed it. And I believe the same.
"His psychological hold on me was such that I was willing to sleep with him."
However, the complainant said he dismissed the idea and informed Mr Taylor, who replied that he did not want to have sex.
Later, on the last night of school when the boy was no longer underage, he stayed at the teacher's home and they kissed in bed, but the defendant is not charged over the incident, the prosecutor said.
The defendant subsequently contacted his former pupil asking if he was upset about their relationship, the jury was told.
The trial continues.
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