A teacher who appeared on the Channel 4 series Educating Cardiff has admitted sexually assaulting a 17-year-old at a flat in Cardiff Bay. Three days into his trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Gareth Ritter, 44, returned to court on Thursday afternoon when his counsel informed judge recorder Dyfed Thomas that the defendant would be changing his plea to guilty.
Allegations and Earlier Denials
Earlier on Thursday the court had heard Ritter deny he had kissed or touched the teenager inappropriately. Ritter, who was a former assistant headteacher at Willows High School in Cardiff, which was the subject of the popular series that followed the daily lives of teachers and pupils at the secondary school, will now be sentenced on November 4.
Ritter had already pleaded guilty to two offences of possessing and one of distributing indecent images of the then 17-year-old complainant, who later reported him over the alleged sexual assault. The images had been taken consensually with the complainant and her partner in 2015 before the sexual assault by Ritter. However, the images had been shared without either of their permission or knowledge.
Court Testimony
The trial had heard how Ritter attended an event with the complainant in 2015 after which he assaulted her in a flat he was renting. The victim told the court Ritter took her to see the view from the balcony. He then started to comment on her dress and touched her without permission.
The defendant made several comments about how she looked and said "look at your t**s" before starting to giggle, the court heard. Ritter moved in to touch the complainant, put his right hand on her lower back, and moved down to her bum. The defendant then touched her without permission again and put his tongue in her mouth.
The complainant told the court: "I felt really uncomfortable. I had nowhere to go. I found it hard to say stop and did not know how to react."
She added: "He said: 'Are you going to tell anyone?' I said no. What do you say in that situation? He was someone I looked up to. How do you confront that? Do I argue with someone giving me a lift home?" She added that Ritter was "very influential and popular and had lots of friends".
Change of Plea
Giving evidence on Thursday morning, Ritter vehemently denied he had sexually assaulted the teenager, and claimed he only returned to the flat in order to collect a bracelet left by a colleague. He said someone offered the complainant a lift home on his behalf, and he complied.
The defendant said he told the complainant he would be a "matter of minutes" and she could wait in the car, but she said she would come with him. Ritter said: "(The complainant) sat down on one of the settees. I was having a look round for the bracelet. It was an open plan living room and kitchen. I found the bracelet on the side and we left. There was a balcony. It was off the living room."
Defence barrister Jenny Yeo said: "Did either of you go out onto the balcony?" The defendant said: "No." Ms Yeo said: "(The complainant) said you said 'Look at your t**s.'" Ritter said: "No, definitely not. That’s not something I would say."
Ms Yeo said: "Did you ever touch her bottom or back?" Ritter said: "No." Ms Yeo said: "Did you ask her to go into the bedroom?" Ritter said: "No, definitely not."
Ms Yeo asked the defendant: "Did you try to kiss her?" To which Ritter replied: "No, definitely not." Ms Yeo then asked: "Did you touch her inappropriately?" To which Ritter responded: "No."
But after the court broke for lunch the defendant returned to court and indicated he wished to change his plea and he subsequently pleaded guilty to sexual assault. Recorder Thomas then asked the jury to formally find the defendant guilty of sexual assault.
Sentencing Scheduled
Ritter, of Great Tyrmynach Farm, Monmouthshire, was remanded on bail to appear for sentencing on November 4. Recorder Thomas told the defendant not to take the fact he was granted bail as indication of whether he will be receiving a custodial sentence or not.
