Neil Foden: Head teacher touched girl after being told no - court

A girl has told a court that a head teacher accused of sexual abuse would touch her even after she told him she did not like it.

Speaking from behind a screen at Mold Crown Court, the girl - known as Child B - said she met Neil Foden on numerous occasions.

One time she said he held her hands as they lay in her lap, "very close" to her genitals.

Mr Foden, 66, from Old Colwyn, Conwy county, denies the charges against him.

"I was very uncomfortable, almost in a state of shock," she said.

She also recalled Mr Foden "grabbing" the back of her neck on many occasions, in spite of her telling him it made her "uncomfortable" and that she did not like "skin to skin contact".

Mr Foden, who was head of Ysgol Friars in Bangor and strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle secondary school in Penygroes, denies 20 charges, including 13 of sexual activity with a child.

His defence barrister Duncan Bould asked Child B if the situation had been "sufficiently upsetting" that she stopped going to see him, but she said she had not stopped their meetings.

Mr Bould suggested that Mr Foden had never grabbed Child B's neck, but she insisted he did.

He also asked Child B why she had not made any complaint until Mr Foden's arrest.

"At the time I trusted him and didn't think anything of it," she said, agreeing that his arrest made her re-evaluate things.

She was also asked about comments she said he had made about the way she looked, saying it was "reassuring in a way" but also "unsettling".

Mr Bould asked if she thought that at the time, to which she replied that she had.

He then disputed that Mr Foden had discussed sexual matters with her.

"He did," she replied.

Later, the court was shown a video interview of a girl known as Child C telling police that Mr Foden had "pinched her inner thigh" and hugged her "on a number of occasions".

She also said he put his hand up her clothing and touched the bottom of her back and the top of her skirt.

He also touched her hair and "rubbed it," she said.

At a hearing on Tuesday, the court was told that the former director of education for Gwynedd council had been told there was "no need for a formal investigation" into Mr Foden's conduct after concerns were raised.

Garem Jackson, who left his role in Sept 2023 for personal reasons, said a teacher told him Mr Foden was putting himself at risk due to his "proximity" to certain young girls.

Mr Jackson added that he was then told by a safeguarding officer "no formal investigation" was needed.

The trial continues.