Man faces abuse trial

Paul Firth has denied the charges

A former assistant head teacher and scout leader has gone on trial on child abuse charges.

Paul Firth, 52, has been charged with lewd and libidinous behaviour towards two young boys between 1992 and 1996.

At the time he was an assistant head teacher at St Machar Academy in Aberdeen and a scout group leader.

The offences were alleged to have taken place at Firth's house in Aberdeenshire and in various other parts of Scotland.

Firth has also been charged with failing to attend a trial at the High Court in Dundee and fleeing from the UK.

I thought I might have to leave the scouts so I just kept it to myself Alleged victim

One of his alleged victims, who is now aged 22, told a jury at Aberdeen Sheriff Court that he and a friend had cycled to the scout leader's house near Alford, in Aberdeenshire.

The accused had allegedly agreed to offer the then 11-year-old boy extra tuition for scouting badges because he had missed a scout camp due to a family holiday.

The two boys slept in a tent in the scout leader's garden over a period of five nights.

The man alleged that he woke on several occasions to discover that Mr Firth was fondling him.

He told the court: "I was confused. I am not going to deny I enjoyed scouts, I was just very confused about what was happening.

"I thought I might have to leave the scouts so I just kept it to myself. I always wanted it to stop.

"It never happened any other time, it was only at night when I was sleeping."

The man added: "I told my parents eventually."

'Position of responsibility'

He denied his evidence was false when questioned by Mr Firth's defence counsel.

John Burns, QC, said: "I am saying he did not do anything to you."

The man said: "In that case it's my word against his, I know what happened, he was in a position of responsibility and he abused it."

Mr Burns said: "Is it possible that what you have described Mr Firth doing to you is just some sort of pre-adolescent fantasy that has somehow chrystalised in your mind?"

The man said: "You cannot make up lying in bed and having someone do something wrong to you and pretending you are asleep.

"I do not just make that up, this happened, this is why I am here."

The trial continues.