Hastings teacher accused of abuse 'was having lesbian affair with alleged victim's mother'

A former sports teacher has gone on trial accused of sexual offences with a 14-year-old female pupil in Sussex.

Serena Weston now lives in Cornwall and has pleaded not guilty to four charges which allegedly took place while a teacher at Hillcrest School, Hastings. She denies three charges of sexual activity and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The woman was a confidant of the girl, who had expressed doubts about her own sexuality, Hove Crown Court heard. The prosecution claim a relationship developed outside school as the teacher visited her home and became friends with her mother. When she left the house one night the pupil and teacher hugged and kissed, the jury heard.

The court was told Ms Weston would deny ever touching the girl and, in support of that, would claim she was having a lesbian affair with the pupil's mother.

The case continues.

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