Jury sent home in teacher sex trial

Amy Gehring denies four charges of indecent assault

The jury in the trial of a female teacher accused of indecently assaulting two boys has been sent home for the weekend.

Judge John Bull QC had directed jurors that he would accept a majority verdict on the charges of indecent assault faced by 26-year-old Amy Gehring.

The judge summed up the case with a warning to the jury to disregard her behaviour and concentrate only on the allegations she has been charged with during their deliberations.

He said some of her behaviour had been "highly prejudicial".

But he told the jury of seven men and five women at Guildford Crown Court they must focus on the four counts of indecent assault the teacher is charged with.

'Blurred memories'

Miss Gehring, of Hampton, south London, denies four charges of indecent assault against two brothers, aged 14 and 15, while she taught biology as a supply teacher at a Surrey comprehensive school.

Continuing his summing up on the tenth day of the trial, Judge Bull told the jury the boys could have exaggerated and told lies to the court about what had happened.

He also warned the jury the drinking of alcohol during some of the alleged assaults could have blurred the memories of all those involved.

He also drew their attention to the fact the boys had been offered cash by newspapers and warned them of the danger that they might think pledges of large sums of money for the boys' stories if Miss Gehring was convicted could mean they could have exaggerated events.

Good character

He also pointed towards the good character of Canadian national Miss Gehring.

He told them that because both boys were under 16 at the time of the alleged assaults they were unable, in law, to consent to the acts of indecency which are alleged to have taken place.

He said: "There is no suggestion in the evidence that these boys were other than willing", but he explained because of their age that did not matter.

The trial continues.