Neil Foden: Head teacher told girl men would be 'all over her', court told

BBC Neil FodenBBC
Neil Foden denies 20 charges, including 13 of sexual activity with a child

A head teacher asked a teenage girl about her sex life and said men would be "all over her", a court has heard.

Neil Foden, from Old Colwyn, Conwy County, allegedly preyed on five girls over four years.

The 66-year-old was head of Ysgol Friars, in Bangor, and strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle secondary school in Gwynedd.

He denies 20 charges, including 13 of sexual activity with a child.

On Thursday, a jury at Mold Crown Court watched a video interview with a teenager who described how he touched her legs, waist and bottom, and asked her about her sex life.

The girl, known as Child D, said she met Mr Foden between 15 and 20 times, during which he was "flirty" and asked her personal questions.

They included him asking what sexual things she did with her boyfriend, and she said Mr Foden sometimes locked the door to the room they were in.

In the interview she described how he would rub her legs and shoulders and tell her she was "an attractive young woman" and that "men would be all over her".

She said this "weirded her out".

PA Media Neil Foden arriving at Mold Crown CourtPA Media
Mr Foden is accused of having "masturbated" on a FaceTime call to one girl

Child D also detailed one occasion when she was "upset and crying" and Mr Foden held her tightly, "restraining her".

"I couldn't go anywhere," she said. "He was breathing down my neck, putting his lips on my neck, pressing hard and breathing all around my ear."

She went on to describe how Mr Foden rubbed his hands over her bottom, up under her skirt and on her legs.

"I tried to duck under his arms and was crying and shaking," she said.

"I walked home and was really freaking out."

The girl said she told her boyfriend and he tried to convince her to tell her family, but she did not report anything until after Mr Foden was arrested last September.

BBC/ Helen Tipper Court sketch of Neil FodenBBC/ Helen Tipper
An artist's impression of Mr Foden in court

Child D also said another girl, known as Child A, told her she was in a relationship with a much older man, who she later said was Mr Foden.

She said Child A told her that they would go on drives, where he would carry out sexual acts on her.

Child D added that Child A had also told her Mr Foden had "masturbated" on a FaceTime call, and had shown her a screenshot of it.

Duncan Bould, defending Mr Foden, asked Child D whether it was correct she had refused a request from police "if they could download the contents of your phone".

"Yes. I said no," she replied.

Mr Bould added: "I suggest you've made up these allegations" before disputing that a door was ever locked by Mr Foden when he was in a room with her.

The trial continues.