A retired teacher from Falmouth School has told a court how she became increasingly concerned about the actions of its deputy head.

Terence Burke, now aged 74, is currently on trial charged with a range of sexual offences against girls under 16 including four charges of incitement to commit an act of gross indecency, five charges of indecent assault, two charges of sex with a girl under 16, three charges of sexual activity with a girl under 16, abusing a position of trust and two charges of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity whilst in a position of trust.

Burke, who lives in Swindon, denies all the charges.

On Friday Truro Crown Court heard evidence from a former teacher who said she had considered Burke, who was assitant headteacher at the time she taught, to be “a mate” but told the court that after a while she became concerned over how often she would see different students in his office.

“I don’t think I was the only person concerned,” she told the court.

She said she tried to raise it with Burke – as did other members of staff – but “got short shrift.”

The court heard how one day Burke did not arrive at work and “just disappeared.”

It then became apparent that allegations had been made about Burke’s conduct.

The former teacher went on to say that some time after, she was contacted by a former student at the school, asking to speak to her about Burke.

“I knew immediately what it was about,” said the woman, who went on to become a safeguarding lead. “I had had extensive safeguarding training since Terence had left.

“She said he had sexual intercourse with her on a number of occasions; that he had taken her to a hotel.

“I was appalled, absolutely appalled.”

She confirmed to Burke’s defence barrister that she took what she had been told by the former student at face value, and said she was unaware of the student telling lies while at school.

The barrister asked her if she agreed there were students who would have disengaged with school had it not been for the support of Burke, to which the woman replied: “I think Terence did have a positive effect on a number of students children, definitely. He also had a very negative effect on some.”

READ MORE: Former deputy head alleged to have groomed pupils

The headteacher at the time then told the court that they had no suspicions about students being in Burke’s office, as one of his roles was safeguarding, but that as assistant headteacher a “strategic” decision was taken to move his office closer, so they could work together on aspects of improving the school.

However the former head agreed with the prosecution that a “second motive” of relocating Burke was so they could see if students were in his office when passing by.

They went on to say that before Burke’s suspension from the school they had told him that an allegation had been made by a former student about a member of staff, who was at that time unnamed.

The head said they had mentioned the name of the student to Burke, to see if he remembered them, and told the court: “I remember quite distinctly that when I mentioned it was [the student] there was a fleeting change in his facial expression.”

They added: “There was almost a fleeting blanching and then he started to talk quite quickly and earnestly about [the student].”

The mother of another student subsequently contacted the school to raise concerns that her daughter was being groomed, which led to Burke’s suspension pending an investigation.

The headteacher said that a hearing had then taken place in Truro, in front of the school governors, and shortly before they were to make a decision Burke’s representative had said that, as Burke had been due to retire at the end of the school year, he wished to start that retirement early.

Earlier, the mother of one of the alleged victims had told the court she first became suspicious when she found a bottle of expensive perfume in her daughter’s room.

Her daughter told her that a member of staff at school had given it to her as a gift.

She was so concerned she rang the school to speak to the headteacher, but they were unavailable and as assistant headteacher Burke rang her back.

He offered to speak to her daughter about it, but the mother said she wanted to speak to the member of staff involved – unaware that it was actually him, according to the prosecution case.

Burke told her he would find out which member of staff it was and get back to her; she did not hear back from him, she said.

Some time after, her daughter returned from school annoyed with her, having learned she’d contacted the school.

However, eventually she told her mum that it was Burke who had given her the perfume and showed messages on her phone.

The mum said: “I was shocked to say the least, to see how many messages, and it even came to the point where a teacher says ‘I think I’m falling in love with you, I’ve fallen in love with you’ – something to that effect.

“She said she was really uncomfortable and didn’t know how to get out of it.”

The mother contacted the police and handed over the perfume, along with a note from Burke excusing the girl from lessons, nine receipts for mobile phone credit and two audio CDs.

A former student at the school then told the court how the girl had shown him a text message from Burke at that time, in which he asked her “whether or not she felt it was inappropriate that he [Burke] had tried to kiss her.”

The trial continues.