Harrow teacher denies historical child sex charges

Jan 9 2012 By Jessica Thompson

A FORMER head teacher from Harrow facing historical child abuse charges spoke in court of his shock when the allegations came to light.

David Griffiths, 50, of Thistlecroft Gardens in Stanmore, is on trial at Wood Green Crown Court for eight counts of indecency with a child and one count of buggery.

He denies the charges.

Griffiths also faced an additional charge of indecency with a child, but was found not guilty by the jury of this allegation at the hearing on Friday.

Griffiths worked at several schools during his career which began in September 1987, including Broadfields Primary School in Barnet, Edgware Junior School and Frith Manor Primary School, also in Barnet.

The offences are alleged to have happened between 1991 and 1993 in more than one location, including a school, which cannot be named, and the Welsh Harp Boating Lake.

Griffiths, who is married, was a long running volunteer for Greater London and Middlesex West Scouts, having been rewarded for more than 30 years service including a role as a district commissioner.

He also had a voluntary role in child protection at a local church, as well as assisting with a range of other projects at the church.

The court heard on Friday January 6 how Griffiths gave a 'no comment' interview to police when first arrested after receiving legal advice.

He said: "I made the decision not to answer any questions. I was advised by my solicitor to make a no comment interview. I was being accused of some quite dreadful allegations. I was in a state of shock."

He explained how he regretted making a no comment interview, and was simply "following advice given at the time".

Griffiths, who was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and tie, appeared calm in the dock, and answered a simple 'No I did not' to questioning from prosecutor Sally-Ann Hales who asked him whether he had sexually abused a child on a number of occasions, including during a school trip.

She added: "You have abused vulnerable children of a very young age, and it has taken them until now to make a complaint".

Griffiths also denied that he ever held detentions with pupils, due to policy at the school where he was working at the time saying parents would have been "up in arms" if he did so.

Valerie Charbit, who was defending Griffiths, pointed out holes in one of the claims against him, saying that parents were never standing in a part of the school they were said to by one of the pupils, and it was in fact a staff car park.

The trial continues.