Feb 20 - Start Of Montovio Trial: Teacher Accused Of Numerous Sexual Offences Against 10-Year Old Boy
The trial of Mark Montovio, a teacher accused of numerous sexual offences involving a 10-year old boy, opened this morning at the Supreme Court.
The jury heard the opening statement from the prosecution delivered by Ricky Rhoda QC. Mr Rhoda said that the victim, who is now 28 years old, used to attend private lessons together with other students in Montovio’s home in order to help him with his dyslexia. The victim alleges that, during the course of these lessons, Montovio started to touch him inappropriately several times under the table and would even separate him from the rest of the students in order to perform sexual acts on him. The allegations date back to a period spanning several months in 1995-1996 when the victim was 10 years old.
Mr Rhoda claimed that the abuse went through two stages: an initial “grooming” phase during which Montovio is said to have touched the victim in order to prepare the ground for subsequent and more serious episodes of indecent assault.
Mr Rohda said the defendant’s actions constituted a “breach of trust by sexually forcing himself on a young boy.” He said that as a result of these alleged incidents, the victim had had a troubled life of drug abuse and insomnia and had only gathered the courage to report the matter to the police two years ago. The jury is set to hear evidence from another student who attended the private lessons who also alleges that Montovio touched him inappropriately.
Montovio is charged with four counts of indecent conduct and two counts of indecent assault. He denies all charges and is represented by John Charles Rees QC and Ray Pilley. Ricky Rhoda QC appears for the Crown and is assisted by James Lennane. The judge hearing the case is Puisne Judge Barrington Black.
