Teacher from York goes on trial accused of raping pupil

A top private school teacher from York told a 15-year-old pupil “It’s OK, I’ve had a vasectomy” before raping her, a court heard.

James Husband, who taught history at Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex in the 1990s, is alleged to have told head of house Gary Dobbie about the encounter.

Dobbie later joked with the girl that she had “beard rash”, indicating he knew what had happened, jurors were told on Thursday (May 31).

She reported Husband to the Horsham school’s chaplain but no action was taken. Even her mother did not believe her story, Hove Crown Court heard.

The pair, who both worked at the prestigious school and lived in the grounds, are standing trial after denying sexually abusing eight pupils over the course of 13 years.

Eloise Marshall, prosecuting, told the court victims believed the teachers would “laugh” together about their exploits.

Husband, 68, of Wigginton in York, denies four counts of rape and five of indecently assaulting a girl as young as 14 between 1990 and 1994. He claims they had “consensual sex” once when she was 16.

Sex in the study

He left the school after it emerged he was having a consensual affair with a different pupil who was not underage and not a complainant in the case, Ms Marshall said.

The girl’s diary entries suggested they had sex in Husband’s study – which is where he is accused of abusing his alleged victim, the court heard.

Dobbie, 66, of Albi in France and formerly of Hereford, faces a string of allegations against six boys and two girls as young as 12 between 1998 and 2001.

He denies 12 counts of indecently assaulting four boys and two girls, attempting to indecently assault a boy and two counts of indecency with a child.

Ms Marshall said: “Both the men knew each other and there is some evidence to suggest that they discussed what they were doing.”

Husband’s alleged victim “lay there like a rag doll” while he raped her and waited for it to be over, the court heard.

It became so frequent she began to “hate” what was happening, was “disgusted with herself” and was suicidal, Ms Marshall said.

Founded in the 16th century, Christ’s Hospital charges boarders up to £31,500 a year and counts Sir Barnes Wallis, inventor of the bouncing bomb, and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge as alumni.

Pupils still wear a Tudor-style uniform consisting of a long blue coat and high yellow socks.

The trial, expected to last six weeks, continues.