A teacher from Bexleyheath who is accused of repeatedly raping a teenage pupil “preyed on her struggles with science” by offering her extra help, a court has heard.
Darlington Nuwertey, 32, of Hanover Close, is on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court charged with nine counts of rape and one count of adult abuse of a position of trust by engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 16 or above. He denies all of the charges.
The prosecution told jurors that Mr Nuwertey met the girl while teaching at Oasis Academy Silvertown in east London and “began to show interest in her” when she was in Year 10 and approaching her 16th birthday.
Richard Burrington, prosecuting, said the defendant “took advantage of her sexually” and “took advantage of the imbalance of power between them in the school setting”.
Jurors heard that Mr Nuwertey would ask the girl to stay behind at the end of lessons and, when the two were alone in the classroom, would tell her she was “beautiful” and “mature for her age”.
In Year 11, when the girl found she was struggling in science, it is alleged Mr Nuwertey told her she should come to his class for extra help.
Mr Burrington told the court: “On this particular occasion, when the two of them were alone, he locked the door, pinned her against the wall and began kissing her, while also forcefully groping her breast over her school uniform.”
The court heard Mr Nuwertey was “nearly caught red-handed” when a science technician came into the classroom. He “quickly ran to the front of the class and pretended nothing untoward was going on”, the jury was told.
The technician was suspicious enough to report what she had seen to a more senior member of staff, sparking an internal investigation, the court heard. Mr Nuwertey allegedly pressured the teenager into lying about the interaction.
Snapchat messages and alleged storeroom attacks
It is alleged that the teacher asked the girl to send him nude pictures on Snapchat, sent her pictures and videos himself, and contacted her on the app telling her to meet him in the storeroom of another teacher’s classroom.
The prosecution said he would lock the door before raping her many times.
Mr Burrington told jurors: “He has since denied any sexual activity between him and [the complainant] ever occurred while she was a schoolgirl of Oasis Academy and he was her teacher.”
Jurors heard that Mr Nuwertey later left Oasis Academy to work at Bexleyheath Academy. Several months afterwards, the girl alleges, he contacted her, invited her to his house and, in the living room, “told her he wanted her to carry his baby”.
He then raped her, the jury was told.
A few months later, after the defendant kept pestering her to see him, he picked her up, drove her to his house and it is alleged he raped her again, the prosecution said.
On another date Mr Nuwertey picked the complainant up and took her to his house, but they remained in the car. He again told her “he wanted her to carry his baby” and then, the jury was told, he is accused of raping her.
The prosecution told the court the defendant texted the teenager to say his wife had found out about them, and blocked her on Snapchat and Telegram.
Father’s discovery and arrest
The complainant’s father became suspicious about her spending and checked her bank account, where he found unexplained payments. The court heard Mr Nuwertey had given her the money.
When her father asked her about it, she is said to have broken down in tears as she revealed what had been happening, the court heard.
Mr Nuwertey was arrested and gave a prepared statement denying all allegations of sexual activity with a child. He denied any sexual contact with the complainant and denied the allegation of rape, maintaining that their relationship was professional in nature.
As London Streets reported when the trial opened, the Bexleyheath teacher is accused of attacking the Newham schoolgirl in a classroom storeroom.
The trial continues at Snaresbrook Crown Court, the east London court which recently heard the £20m cocaine “fish plot” case.
Why the complainant cannot be named
Complainants in sexual offence cases are entitled to lifelong anonymity under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992. That means nothing may be published — in print, online or on social media — that could lead to the girl at the centre of this case being identified.
The restriction applies from the moment an allegation is made and lasts for the complainant’s lifetime. Breaching it is a contempt of court and can lead to prosecution. It is why court reports refer to “the complainant” or “the girl” rather than using a name, and why addresses and other identifying details are withheld.
The media can report what is said in open court, including the name of an adult defendant once it has been stated in court, but anything that risks identifying the complainant must be left out. The rules exist so that witnesses in cases of this kind can give evidence without fear of being publicly identified.
What happens next in the trial
The prosecution will continue to present its case, calling its remaining witnesses and putting its evidence before the jury. Once the prosecution closes its case, the defence will have its opportunity to respond, which can include calling the defendant to give evidence along with any other defence witnesses.
Both sides will then make closing speeches before the judge sums up the evidence and gives the jury legal directions. The jury will retire to consider its verdicts and must be satisfied so that it is sure of guilt on each count before it can convict.
Mr Nuwertey denies all ten charges. Like every defendant, he is presumed innocent unless and until the jury finds otherwise. The trial continues.
