Ex-head teacher sexually abused children - court

Lee Brumby was suspended from his role as head teacher of Mayflower High School, in Billericay, when the allegations arose

A former head teacher posed as a "pillar of respectability" while he sexually abused two children, a court heard.

Lee Brumby, 63, and his ex-wife, Elaine Brumby, 61, are on trial having denied leading a campaign of sexual abuse spanning 13 years.

The pair had a "far from conventional" relationship while they lived together in Little Wakering, Essex, prosecutors told Basildon Crown Court.

Mr Brumby, of Wellands in Witham, was suspended from Mayflower High School in Billericay when the historic allegations - which predated his time at the school - came to light in 2022.

Mrs Brumby, of Kiln Way, Great Wakering, posed as a "dutiful housewife" while the offences were taking place, said Wayne Cleaver, prosecuting.

He alleged she was complicit in the "repeated sexual abuse" led by her husband between 2001 and 2014 and had, on occasion, taken part.

Divorced couple Lee and Elaine Brumby are standing trial at Basildon Crown Court

Acts included encouraging children to perform sexual acts on them and having sex in front of children, the jury was told.

"They engaged in sex when [a victim] was there quite intentionally and we say they did so because they enjoyed it," Mr Cleaver said.

"In some perverted way, they must have been getting sexual gratification from it."

The court heard on one occasion Mr Brumby made one of his victims, who was under the age of 10, perform a sex act on him after role play.

"They played a game where [the victim] had to pretend to be a waitress pretending to serve him and asking him what he wanted," Mr Cleaver added.

'Damaged'

Mr Cleaver said Mrs Brumby "knew full well" what had happened and became involved in other instances of alleged abuse.

Police officers were made aware of the allegations in December 2020, after the complainants confided in loved ones about what they said happened.

One said they "feel damaged to admit this" as they told of the alleged abuse, adding they had daily flashbacks about what happened.

Mr Brumby denies three offences of rape of a child, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and indecency with a child.

Mrs Brumby denies four offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault.

The trial continues.