Abuse trial told former weatherman Fred Talbot spent night in tent with pupils
Talbot told Lanark Sheriff Court there was an occasion where he had slept in a tent while on a camping trip in Scotland but he said that was perfectly normal at the time.
A court has heard how former TV weather presenter Fred Talbot spent the night under canvas with pupils while on school trips.
Talbot told Lanark Sheriff Court there was an occasion where he had slept in a tent while on a camping trip in Scotland but he said that was perfectly normal at the time.
The 67-year-old is on trial at Lanark Sheriff Court, where he denies indecently assaulting several teenage boys on school trips to Scotland in the 1970s and 1980s.
Defence counsel Alan Gravelle also asked how Talbot had ended up spending the night in a mini-bus with boys.
Talbot said: “We did spend the night in tents, but we also spent the night in a mini-bus because we got soaked, because it was so wet.”
He also asked if there was any reluctance by the boys to spend the night on the mini-bus with him.
Talbot replied: “No.”
The court also heard extracts of Talbot's diary while on trips in which he spoke about having “high hopes” while on a trip to St Mary's Loch, Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, in 1981 and had written he had to be careful “not to mess it up”.
He was asked if this referred to a desire and attraction for the boys whom he was with on the trip with while working as a teacher.
Talbot replied: “I was definitely not attracted to them. This was 1981 and days like that I might have been interested in a relationship with a local person.”
The accused was later cross-examined by fiscal depute Imran Bashir, who asked how witnesses who had given evidence about the trips could be wrong.
Mr Bashir claimed Talbot had abused his position as a teacher and the rights of his alleged victims.
He said: “Each individual has rights that can't be ignored, do you agree with that?”
Talbot agreed, saying: “I think every individual has equal rights.”
The court was told that none of Talbot's alleged victims had said they disliked him.
Mr Bashir said: “Time and time again we have heard people give evidence that you effectively carried out indecent assaults on them.
“They have come into this courtroom and said you have done these things to them.”
Talbot denies the charges against him and the trial continues.