A former deputy head teacher who is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old pupil is married to another former student, a court has heard.
John Harvey, 51, who was an English teacher and safeguarding lead at Penryn College in Cornwall, allegedly had sex with the teenager in his car and at her home while her father was away.
He is on trial this week at Truro Crown Court facing two counts of inappropriate sexual behaviour with the girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – while being in a position of trust and abusing that trust.
Harvey denies the two charges in relation to alleged incidents which are said to have happened several years ago.
Jurors heard today that Harvey, from Perranwell Station, is actually married to a former pupil of his with whom he has children and has been with for more than 20 years. She is not the alleged victim in the trial.
Emma Stokes, who was also taught by Harvey for two years, told the court that Harvey’s wife is her best friend, adding that she was a bridesmaid at their wedding and is a godmother to one of their children.
She described the couple’s relationship as very ‘loving, caring, honest’ and said they remained very much in love after all these years.
Ms Stokes said: ‘I’ve never had any reason to doubt or question anything about his behaviour. There has never been a moment that I have had any doubt whatsoever that he absolutely loves [his wife] and the girls.’
John Harvey, 51, who was an assistant head teacher at Penryn College, is said to have formed a relationship with the girl while she was still a student
Ms Stokes took to the stand as part of Harvey’s defence and told the court that she was taught by him for two years and that they remain friends to this day.
She met him during her time at the college where he taught her media studies for her two final years of school.
She described how she still travels to Cornwall to spend time with the former teacher who taught her best friend at Penryn College.
The former Metropolitan Police officer-turned transformational therapist, now of Milton Keynes, said: ‘He was the best teacher I would say, in my opinion. He was the teacher that everybody wanted to be in the class with.
‘He had this amazing respect for the pupils. He was very easily relatable and just made you feel heard and listened to.’
Her two younger brothers also attended the school and were taught by Harvey. Her two nieces are still at the school, one of whom was also taught by Harvey for a time.
Ms Stokes explained that she is also a godmother to one of Harvey and his wife’s children and, as such, they have spent lots of social occasions together.
Asked by the prosecution how she knew her best friend, Ms Stokes explained that they went to school together and were in the same year.
Penryn College where Harvey was employed as an English teacher and safeguarding lead
She said they didn’t have the same classes but confirmed that Harvey taught his partner English at school while she was taught media.
‘I first became aware of their relationship when me and [Harvey’s wife] were going to Truro College together,’ she explained when asked what she knew of when their relationship first began.
Ms Stokes’ father, David O’Neil, also a former police officer, who served for Devon and Cornwall Police, also took to the witness stand during which he described Harvey as having ‘integrity’ and being ‘an honest man’.
That concludes the evidence in the trial.
