Instructor denies sexual offences

Howard Andrews denies serious sexual offences against children

A former outdoor pursuits instructor raped a young girl and sexually abused seven other children over a 13-year period, a court has been told.

Howard Andrews, 45, of Twineham, West Sussex, pleaded not guilty at Exeter Crown Court to a total of 15 serious sexual offences.

They allegedly took place in Sussex, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Surrey and Switzerland between 1985 and 1998.

Mr Andrews used his position of trust to abuse the children, the court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC said working as an outdoor pursuits teacher and in adventure training gave Mr Andrews the opportunity "to assault a number of them in a sexual manner".

Camping trips

Mr Dunkels said Mr Andrews initially began touching them harmlessly before progressing to assaults.

"The defendant would explore the level of response of each child to his advances and physical contact would progress to committing sexual assaults on them."

He said two boys and a girl were abused in the mid-1980s while at a residential school in West Sussex.

"They were vulnerable children who could be exploited," he said.

One of the boys who was repeatedly assaulted was told by Mr Andrews he was his "favourite", Mr Dunkels added.

The court heard two offences against another boy were committed when they spent the night on a boat which ran aground on a sailing trip.

Cider drinking

Mr Andrews told a 12-year-old girl who "craved" affection he would like to adopt her or another girl, and they "competed" for his affections, the jury heard.

Both girls were then indecently assaulted, it is alleged.

In the late 1980s, Mr Andrews moved to Tiverton, Devon, and ran the Marlin Leisure firm, taking children on camping trips.

An eight-year-old girl was assaulted when she shared his sleeping bag on a trip to Swanage, Dorset, the prosecutor said.

In 1991, a 15-year-old girl was indecently assaulted on a sailing trip at Exmouth, Mr Dunkels said.

She was raped in a tent on a later trip after drinking cider at a pub, the prosecutor claimed.

Mr Dunkels said Mr Andrews denied the allegations when confronted by his business partner.

Face consequences

He moved to Surrey in the early 1990s and then abused a 13-year-old boy in Cornwall, the court was told.

Four years later when Mr Andrews was working at a school in Surrey, he abused two 16-year-old girls in Switzerland, it is alleged.

He was investigated in 2004 by police and Surrey Social Services but no action was taken.

He was also investigated for the alleged rape of the 15-year-old girl and denied any sexual contact.

He told a West Sussex social worker he would admit some allegations if charged.

In a letter he said: "I must face the consequences of my actions", the jury was told.

The trial continues.