Deborah Franklin, 65, is accused of having sex with a 10-year-old boy 'countless times' and allegedly blindfolded and strapped him to her bed so she could tickle him with a feather. The married woman faces eight allegations of gross indecency against a boy under 14.
Alleged offences at preparatory school
The reported crimes took place while she was a teacher at a preparatory school in Hertfordshire between 1991 and 1995. Franklin is said to have met the victim, now in his 40s, when he was nine and joined her class.
He said in a previously recorded interview: 'I remember her clothes were off, and she was teaching me how to touch a woman, and I remember saying: "It smells funny"... I remember her just telling me what to do, and I would just do it.'
Sister's evidence in court
The victim's sister gave evidence at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday (July 22). She recalled the teacher, who became the boy's private tutor, spending time at their house, as well as one occasion where she found Franklin 'under the covers' with her brother.
At first, the sister said Franklin, of Radlett in Hertfordshire, was 'fun', 'charismatic' and 'likeable'. She explained how the teacher 'became a family friend' and even visited the home on Saturday afternoons.
Reports to police
The boy reported what was happening to his father before Franklin was reported to the police after it was discovered she was still working at the same school in 2004. According to his former school friends, Franklin and the boy were 'very close' and had a 'flirtatious' relationship.
One explained: 'He would sit very much in Mrs Franklin's arms, as you would see a boyfriend and a girlfriend sitting together, and at moments tickling his arm. There was a lot of laughing, talking, and whispering. I felt very much outside of it. I felt left out; that was my best friend.'
Brother's testimony
The complainant's brother also gave evidence in court. He remembered Franklin as 'always pleasant' and 'cool' and recalled that she used to watch TV with his brother. He also reported that she would spend time in his bedroom and once made a comment about anal sex.
He told the court: 'She turned back to look at me. She made a comment about anal sex. I asked if her husband likes it. She told me pillows are very important, because it allows you to go deeper if you have sex with pillows.'
Gavin Pottinger, prosecuting, asked him: 'Did [your brother] ever tell you that anything had happened between him and Debbie?' He replied: 'It came up a lot that something had happened. He never told me the details, and I never asked for them. It came up over a lifetime. It came up consistently in different contexts.'
Alleged blindfold and tickling
On the first alleged incident in his garage, the complainant said: 'She kissed me on the lips, and we started to touch.' He continued: 'There was a ton of manipulation obviously, but at the time it did not present like that. At the time, it was like: I am in a relationship. I'm your girlfriend. We have to be cautious.'
He also recalled 'countless' sexual encounters in which Franklin would tie him blindfolded to her bed. She would then allegedly tickle him with a feather and have sex with him. He said: 'At the time, I don't think I was terrified. I wasn't. I don't remember being scared. But it began to bother me when I was around 14... I was tied to the posts, blindfolded and she was tickling me naked and I remember her being surprised I didn't enjoy it.'
Franklin's denial
Franklin said in a police interview: 'It's a lot of rubbish, I'm sorry, but it's not true, and I don't understand why someone would say such dreadful things. I'm stunned, shocked.' She said of the complainant: 'I don't remember much about him. He moved on to the next school like any other child.'
She denies eight counts of gross indecency with a boy under 14. The trial continues.
