GARETH PARRY TRIAL IN NEWCASTLE OVER ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULTS INVOLVING MINOR

A music teacher accused of kissing a minor girl after exchanging flirtatious emails has gone on trial at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard that married Gareth Parry, 38, allegedly engaged in an illegal relationship after the girl blew him a kiss. He denies six charges of sexual touching.

The victim, a girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed they exchanged up to seven emails a day and also communicated via FaceTime. She further alleged that Parry performed sexual acts on her in his car and during walks. After these incidents, she reportedly wrote a note in her phone describing her feelings as disgusted, hurt, and sick.

The girl's testimony is expected to be given from behind a screen on the second day of what is anticipated to be a five-day trial. Her account was delayed due to initial IT problems, including issues with a police interview filmed months after the alleged events, which struggled to play during proceedings.

In that interview, the girl stated she was the one who initially began flirting. She told Cleveland Police, "He was just funny - his personality was just amazing." When asked why she was attracted to him, she explained, "His personality and maturity, intelligence, wit and height."

She described their interactions as banter, though she admitted she was worried about his wife discovering their exchanges. She also detailed what she claimed was their first kiss, describing the banter turning into something more intimate.

The Crown argued that Parry exploited the young girl seriously, while the defendant, of Stonebridge Crescent, Ingleby Barwick, maintains that the events simply did not occur. The trial continues with the verdict yet to be determined.