Latest news with #PenrynCollege
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Deputy headteacher, 51, who had sex with schoolgirl is married to former student and has children with her, court hears
A former deputy head teacher who is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old pupil is married to another former student, a court has heard. John Harvey, 51, who was an English teacher and safeguarding lead at Penryn College in Cornwall, allegedly had sex with the teenager in his car and at her home while her father was away. He is on trial this week at Truro Crown Court facing two counts of inappropriate sexual behaviour with the girl - who cannot be named for legal reasons - while being in a position of trust and abusing that trust. Harvey denies the two charges in relation to alleged incidents which are said to have happened several years ago. Jurors heard today that Harvey, from Perranwell Station, is actually married to a former pupil of his with whom he has children and has been with for more than 20 years. She is not the alleged victim in the trial. Emma Stokes, who was also taught by Harvey for two years, told the court that Harvey's wife is her best friend, adding that she was a bridesmaid at their wedding and is a godmother to one of their children. She described the couple's relationship as very 'loving, caring, honest' and said they remained very much in love after all these years. Ms Stokes said: 'I've never had any reason to doubt or question anything about his behaviour. There has never been a moment that I have had any doubt whatsoever that he absolutely loves [his wife] and the girls.' Ms Stokes took to the stand as part of Harvey's defence and told the court that she was taught by him for two years and that they remain friends to this day. She met him during her time at the college where he taught her media studies for her two final years of school. She described how she still travels to Cornwall to spend time with the former teacher who taught her best friend at Penryn College. The former Metropolitan police officer turned transformational therapist, now of Milton Keynes, said: 'He was the best teacher I would say, in my opinion. He was the teacher that everybody wanted to be in the class with. 'He had this amazing respect for the pupils. He was very easily relatable and just made you feel heard and listened to.' Her two younger brothers also attended the school and were taught by Harvey. Her two nieces are still at the school, one of whom was also taught by Harvey for a time. Ms Stokes explained that Harvey is married to her best friend and that she was a bridesmaid at their wedding and is a godmother to one of their children. As such they have spent lots of social occasions together. Asked by the prosecution how she knew her best friend, Ms Stokes explained that they went to school together and were in the same year. She said they didn't have the same classes but confirmed that Harvey taught his partner English at school while she was taught media. 'I first became aware of their relationship when me and [Harvey's wife] were going to Truro College together,' she explained when asked what she knew of when their relationship first began. Ms Stokes' father, David O'Neil, also a former police officer, who served for Devon and Cornwall Police, also took to the witness stand during which he described Harvey as having 'integrity' and being 'an honest man'. That concludes the evidence in the trial.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Married deputy head teacher, 51, ‘had sex with schoolgirl in car & at home while dad was away'
Harvey told police the alleged sex was "a figment of her imagination" SCHOOL SHOCK Married deputy head teacher, 51, 'had sex with schoolgirl in car & at home while dad was away' A MARRIED deputy head teacher allegedly had sex with a schoolgirl in his car and at her home while her dad was away. Former assistant head and English teacher John Harvey is accused of having sex with the girl several times. 2 John Harvey, former deputy headteacher, English teacher and safeguard lead at Penryn College Credit: BPM The 51-year-old, who worked at Penryn College in Cornwall, denies the charges. When he was arrested and interviewed by cops, he said it was all "a figment of her imagination", CornwallLive reported. Prosecutor Nigel Wraith said the pair had sex outside school, in his car and even at her home when her dad had been away. Truro Crown Court was told that the teenager had been in love with her teacher but he told her to keep the relationship secret. This was because he was a married man with children and he could lose his job and could go to prison. The prosecutor told the jury that the relationship, which included two pregnancy scares, continued after she left school. It wasn't reported to the police until her friends became concerned. Truro Crown Court was told that there is no question of sexual assault or rape. Harvey is facing two counts of inappropriate sexual behaviour with a 16-year-old girl while being in a position of trust and abusing that trust. The alleged behaviour are said to have occurred several years ago. While the age of consent is 16, this rises to 18 when someone holds a position of trust. This is in order to protect pupils at school from potential inappropriate relationships with teachers.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Married deputy head teacher, 51, ‘had sex with schoolgirl in car & at home while dad was away'
A MARRIED deputy head teacher allegedly had sex with a schoolgirl in his car and at her home while her dad was away. Former assistant head and English teacher John Harvey is accused of having sex with the girl several times. 2 John Harvey, former deputy headteacher, English teacher and safeguard lead at Penryn College Credit: BPM The 51-year-old, who worked at Penryn College in Cornwall, denies the charges. When he was arrested and interviewed by cops, he said it was all "a figment of her imagination", Prosecutor Nigel Wraith said the pair had sex outside school, in his car and even at her home when her dad had been away. Truro Crown Court was told that the teenager had been in love with her teacher but he told her to keep the relationship secret. Read more This was because he was a married man with children and he could lose his job and could go to prison. The prosecutor told the jury that the relationship, which included two pregnancy scares, continued after she left school. It wasn't reported to the police until her friends became concerned. Truro Crown Court was told that there is no question of sexual assault or rape. Most read in The Sun Harvey is facing two counts of inappropriate sexual behaviour with a 16-year-old girl while being in a position of trust and abusing that trust. The alleged behaviour are said to have occurred several years ago. While the This is in order to protect pupils at school from potential inappropriate relationships with teachers. 2 The 51-year-old, who worked at Penryn College in Cornwall, denies the charges Credit: BPM
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Married deputy head teacher, 51, ‘had sex with schoolgirl in car & at home while dad was away'
A MARRIED deputy head teacher allegedly had sex with a schoolgirl in his car and at her home while her dad was away. Former assistant head and English teacher John Harvey is accused of having sex with the girl several times. 2 The 51-year-old, who worked at Penryn College in Cornwall, denies the charges. When he was arrested and interviewed by cops, he said it was all "a figment of her imagination", CornwallLive reported. Prosecutor Nigel Wraith said the pair had sex outside school, in his car and even at her home when her dad had been away. Truro Crown Court was told that the teenager had been in love with her teacher but he told her to keep the relationship secret. This was because he was a married man with children and he could lose his job and could go to prison. The prosecutor told the jury that the relationship, which included two pregnancy scares, continued after she left school. It wasn't reported to the police until her friends became concerned. Truro Crown Court was told that there is no question of sexual assault or rape. Harvey is facing two counts of inappropriate sexual behaviour with a 16-year-old girl while being in a position of trust and abusing that trust. The alleged behaviour are said to have occurred several years ago. While the age of consent is 16, this rises to 18 when someone holds a position of trust. This is in order to protect pupils at school from potential inappropriate relationships with teachers.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Married deputy headteacher, 51, befriended schoolgirl and had sex with her before being caught because she told a pal, court hears
A married English teacher and safeguarding lead at a secondary school in Cornwall allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old pupil in his car and at her home while her father was away, a court has heard. John Harvey, 51, who was an assistant head teacher at Penryn College, is said to have formed a relationship with the girl while she was still a student – and gone on to have sexual intercourse with her on multiple occasions. He is now standing trial at Truro Crown Court, accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust – charges he denies. The court was told on Monday that although the girl was above the normal age of consent, the law sets stricter rules when a teacher is involved with a pupil – and in this case, the sexual relationship was illegal. Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, told the jury that Harvey had taken advantage of his position to begin an inappropriate relationship with the girl, which allegedly took place outside school, including in his car and at her home when her father was away. He explained that while the general age of sexual consent is 16, that rises to 18 in cases involving adults in positions of trust, such as teachers. He said: 'A middle age teacher having sex with a 16-year-old pupil is an offence.' John Harvey, 51, who was an assistant head teacher at Penryn College, is said to have formed a relationship with the girl while she was still a student Penryn College. He is now standing trial at Truro Crown Court, accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust – charges he denies The jury heard that the teenager had been 'in love' with Harvey, who told her to keep the relationship secret because he was married with children – and feared losing his job and being sent to prison if anyone found out. The prosecution said the relationship continued even after the girl left Penryn College and began attending Truro College. There were reportedly two pregnancy scares, and the pair kept in contact via text messages even after the relationship began to fizzle out. Mr Wraith told the court the relationship came to light only after the girl confided in a friend. At first, she had been reluctant to speak out, feeling embarrassed about her involvement and not wanting Harvey to get into trouble. But her friends grew increasingly concerned and decided to report the situation to Devon and Cornwall Police – fearing other pupils could also be at risk. Harvey was later arrested and interviewed. He told police that he completely denied the accusations and claimed the alleged incidents were simply 'a figment of her imagination.' The jury heard that the case centres not on whether the relationship was forced – but whether Harvey abused his position of power as a teacher and safeguarding lead. The trial continues.
