A FORMER Maths teacher made a ten-year-old boy spread his legs while washing him in the bath, a court heard.

A former housemaster at a boarding school for boys, Brian Truan, is accused of committing sex offences on pupils 30 years ago.

Truan, now 80, is facing indecency allegations involving the now-closed boarding school.

The former teacher, of Church Road, Peldon, has denied 12 allegations of indecent assault between July 1985 and January 1988, involving four boys aged between nine and 14.

An alleged victim, who cannot be named, said he “tried to kill himself ” years after Truan bathed him in a “perverted way”.

During a cross-examination at Chelmsford Crown Court, the man said: “I remember having to stand up in the bath and spread my legs. He would clean my backside and I would hear panting as if he was excited by it.

“I struggle to form relationships, I have nightmares, I’m on anti-depressants, I attempted to kill myself at the age of 25. I would say it has had a lasting impact on my life.”

The man was nine years old at the time of the first offence.

The jury heard the witness had been invited on four family holidays to Truan’s home in Peldon between 1985 and 1987.

He and his family would spend time at the house and at Truan’s beach hut in Mersea.

Michael Skelley, defending, said the witness had signed a guest book at the house, saying he enjoyed the food and hospitality. He also said his mother appreciated Truan’s help with looking after her son.

The man told the court his mum would let Truan bathe him but he was too young to think it was anything sexual at the time.

It was not until he started to grow older he realised Truan’s actions were inappropriate for a person in a position of trust.

Truan was known to the family before the witness started school, the court heard.

The court heard he did not tell any other pupils but said he raised it with his mum.

He said: “Each time it would bring a sense of anger, the fact I wouldn’t be believed.

“I left school and went off the rails, I can only put it down to one thing - Mr Truan.”

He said Truan was never visibly aroused or removed his clothing during the incidents and there were no incidents which took place at school.

The trial continues.