A former St Albans teacher has gone on trial for sexually assaulting a girl he was privately tutoring.

Paul Wilson, 67, now of St Leonard's Road, Nazeing, denies a "slipper game" was sexual, claiming it was only a motivational tool for when the teenager made mistakes.

He also denies an allegation that he touched the girl's breasts and her knickers under her trousers while giving her a whole body spa-type massage, over clothes, to relieve stress.

Wilson said the complainant's mother gave permission for both the "very, very light taps" occasionally with the slipper, and for the massage. He claimed he gave the mother an identical massage the next day.

Wilson pleads not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to two sexual assaults on the girl and to engaging in sexual activity with her and to a third offence of sexual activity with a child between 2010 and 2012.

Wilson began his teaching career at the former St Julian's School in St Albans and went on to the former Netteswell Grammar in Harlow, and then Epping Forest High School in Debden before moving to Stewards in Harlow.

Case continues