Teenage girl who was ‘groped’ by respected Eton College teacher, 49, kept it secret for a YEAR before telling her best friend when he was arrested for other sex offences, court hears
- Matthew Mowbray alleged to have ‘forcefully squeezed’ bottom of a young girl
- Teenager questioned herself over the assault for a year before telling a friend
- Teacher, 49, arrested May 2019 after allegation of sexual assault on an Eton pupil
Matthew Mowbray, 49, pictured outside Reading Crown Court, Berkshire, Wednesday
A teenage girl who was ‘groped’ by a respected Eton College teacher kept it a secret for a year before telling her best friend after the geography master had been arrested on suspicion of other sex offences, a jury heard today.
Matthew Mowbray was alleged to have ‘forcefully squeezed’ the bottom of the young girl who was left so shocked that she questioned herself for an entire year about the events before saying anything.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not reveal the alleged secret assault until the 49-year-old teacher was arrested in May 2019 following an allegation that he sexually assaulted a boy pupil at Eton College.
Today the court heard how the girl unveiled her traumatic experience at a sleepover with her best friend and the pair spent the evening assessing the pros and cons of disclosing her secret before falling asleep without an outcome.
Prosecutor John Price QC read a statement from the girl’s father – who had previously invited Mowbray to a Christmas celebration.
He said: ‘We were out for a family meal, I was sat with my daughter at the bar when she asked me whether Matthew Mowbray was gay.
Mowbray is a former teacher at the prestigious all-boys’ boarding school Eton College (above)
‘I was aware of the allegations against him so I told her I did not think so, I said I think they can be into boys and girls.
‘The moment I said that, she told me “he touched me”. She started crying, I sat next to her and put my arm around her.
‘We sat down at the table and she told our family that he had groped her bum.’
Details of where and how the sexual groping took place cannot be reported for legal reasons.
Mowbray is accused at Reading Crown Court (pictured) of sexual activity with children
Mowbray, of Locks Road, Locks Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, denies nine counts of sexual activity with a child as he stood trial at Reading Crown Court today, Friday November 20.
He has admitted six counts of making indecent images of children and one count of voyeurism, jurors heard yesterday.
The voyeurism offence relates to a series of covertly filmed images showing a boy at the elite boarding school getting dressed.
He also admitted superimposing pupils’ faces on to the naked bodies of unknown children on his computer.
The trial at Reading Crown Court was adjourned until Monday, November 23.