Former school teacher 'raped boy in classroom and indecently assaulted another'

31 January 2024 , 16:37

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Gareth Rogers, 77, outside Newport court (Image: John Myers)

A former history teacher has been accused of raping a schoolboy in a classroom and of indecently assaulting another while home tutoring him.

Gareth Rogers, 77, was a teacher at Caerleon Comprehensive School in Newport and is accused of indecently assaulting two boys during the 1970s. One of the allegations was that Rogers performed a sex act on one of the boys in his classroom before raping him.

A trial at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard Rogers denies five counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery. He claimed the allegations have been "made up" by the complainants, and told police he has no memory of them.

In his opening, prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said the first complainant came forward and notified the police in 2018 after disclosing the alleged abuse to his mother and his sister. The second complainant came forward in 2019 after he was told Rogers had been arrested.

In his videoed police interview, the first complainant said he was first abused by the defendant in a communal changing room, claiming Rogers put his hand down his shorts. He said it happened on a number of occasions and "went on for months and months".

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Rogers denies five counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery (John Myers)

The alleged rape was said to have a "negative effect" on the complainant's later life, leaving him feeling "terrified" and "ashamed" and it had "messed with him and messed up his head".

The second complainant told the police the defendant was known as "Randy Rogers" by pupils in the school, and was described to have "broken down" in tears in front of a class. He alleged that Rogers had given him extra tuition at home, which was said to have taken place in his bedroom.

It was also said the defendant appeared to be interested in athletics and offered to help train the second complainant in sprinting, but it was alleged this was used as a cover to put himself in close contact with the boy in the changing rooms.

Following these disclosures to the police, Rogers, from Newport, was invited to attend a voluntary interview with police, during which he denied any form of abuse and accused the complainants of "making it all up". He claimed he had "absolutely no sexual interest in boys" and denied having ever tutored a boy at his home. The defendant said he was "professional" during his career and denied doing anything "inappropriate" with a pupil. The trial continues.

Tim Hanlon