Trial of ex-headteacher accused of 'kissing' pupil before having sex with her thrown out

A former headteacher facing historic allegations of sexual activity with a child has seen his case thrown out at court today.

James Rouse, 49, of Lowford Hill Close, Southampton, was on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court for having sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

Rouse, who was previously headteacher at St Anne's Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Southampton, went on trial following allegations of historical child sexual abuse at the school.

Rouse, who was a physics teacher at the time of the alleged offence prior to October 2006, was said to have taken place while she was taking her GCSEs. He went on to become headteacher in 2017.

Prosecutor Christopher Hewertson previously told Portsmouth Crown Court: "The prosecution case is that he groomed her through year 11 and onwards and deliberately made himself perhaps the most important person in her life, and he caused her to become sexually attracted to him."

The alleged incident happened after Rouse contacted the girl while she was on study leave to say he was near her house. After meeting in a field he kissed her mouth to mouth, the court heard.

Mr Hewertson said: "This was not a saying goodbye peck on the cheek. The kiss was an important gateway in this sexual relationship with his pupil."

The court heard how the pair went on to have a full sexual relationship when she turned 18 but this was not being prosecuted.

Following the conclusion of the trial, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. A retrial was scheduled to start at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday 2 November.

Today, proceedings were discontinued following a hearing at the same court.

Meanwhile Edward Waller, 66, of Winter Road, Southsea, was convicted of sexual activity with a child and two counts of inciting child sexual activity, all committed by a person in a position of trust at the same school.

He was found not guilty of rape and was also cleared of a third count of inciting child sexual activity following a trial at at Portsmouth Crown Court. He will be sentenced on 5 February.