A FORMER deputy head has been asked whether three men who have accused him of child abuse might harbour a grudge against him.
David Griffiths, 50, is facing child sex abuse charges at Wood Green Crown Court today.
Mr Griffiths, who has denied the charges, told the court he could not think of any reason why the men would have a motive for lying.
When asked whether one complainant could be harbouring a grudge, Mr Griffiths said: “The difficulty is sometimes when you tell a child off for doing something wrong, if they feel they had not been doing something wrong they can take umbrage to that if they feel it is a miscarriage of the justice, it’s unfair.” But he could not remember a specific occasion when this might have been the case.
Mr Griffiths has taught at four junior schools including three in the borough of Barnet and one in Harrow Weald.
He was suspended as deputy head of a school in Harrow Weald in April 2010 following allegations made the previous month and was arrested the following June. The alleged offences do not relate to his time in Harrow Weald.
The court heard how one mother said she complained to a headteacher about Mr Griffiths touching her son indecently and another complained he had also been touched indecently. Mr Griffiths said the incidents did not happen and he was not aware of the complaints.
On being asked whether he has ever sexually touched or had sex with a child, Mr Griffiths said: “No I did not and have not with any child in schools where I have taught.”
The trial continues.
