Dunmow man on trial for historic sex offences

A Dunmow man is standing trial accused of carrying out two sex offences on a young boy more than 40 years ago.

Former teacher Paul Stainsby, 66, was a family friend and had taken the boy and his brother camping, Chelmsford Crown Court was told this week.

During the night Stainsby, of Millers Croft, Great Dunmow, went into the boys’ tent and got into the victim’s sleeping bag claiming he was “keeping him warm,” before committing the offences, said Emma Nash, prosecuting.

Stainsby, who denies indecent assault and indecency with a child, both between October 9, 1971, and October 8, 1973, will say that this “simply didn’t happen”, said Ms Nash.

He is said to have masturbated the boy and got him to do the same to him by guiding his hand.

Opening the trial, which is expected to last four days, Ms Nash said: “Stainsby was 22 at the time.

“A teacher at Tabor High School – not the boy’s school – Stainsby was idolised by him and took the victim camping with his brother when, in the night, he went into their tent and got into his sleeping bag.

“He told him it was a cold night and he would keep him warm before he began to touch his penis and then guide the boy’s hand to his penis rubbing it up and down.”

Nothing further happened, said Ms Nash.

The boy went to police in 2014.

The trial continues.