The best friend of one of James Braid's alleged victims said the teacher had a group of 'helpers' whom some of the other pupils made fun of.

The group helped the English and drama teacher arrange school discos and put on musicals.

The friend said: 'There were maybe half a dozen of them. I don't know what exactly it was they did but we were aware of this group of helpers who helped out with these events.

'They were all kind of social misfits, late developers. My friend at the time was one of those helpers and he wasn't interested in girlfriends the same way as myself and my other friends were.

'He had other issues which didn't help him to fit in, he was maybe an easy target for bullies and the other helpers appeared to be of that same category.'

He said his friend looked up to Braid, pictured, and sought refuge with the teacher.

He told the court about a time when his friend had talked about watching pornographic films and said he thought it was at Braid's house.

He was unable to recall what his friend had said about watching the films but said: 'He must have said something for me to make that connection and all I can think is that I didn't like the answer that I got and I just tried to block it out rather than deal with what it was that he was telling me.'

He added: 'When I heard that Hampshire police wanted to get in touch with me about my time at school I knew straight away what it would be about.'

Braid,who was a teacher at Bay House School, Gosport, for 30 years, is accused of abusing four boys over a 20-year period.

The 58-year-old denies seven counts of indecent assault, one of rape and another sexual offence.

(Proceeding)

MUM'S CONCERNS

The mother of the second alleged victim told the court she knew something was wrong with her son but had no idea what it was.

'If he wasn't willing to talk about it I couldn't make him,' she said.

Recalling the day her son told her about the allegations, she said: 'He said it very quietly and calmly.

'He was being open. He said that he would have done something about it but he didn't realise, he thought he was the only one it was happening to.'

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