PE teacher Marcus Marcussen 'touched naked boys', court hears

A retired PE teacher routinely ran his hands over the bodies of naked boys in changing rooms, a court has heard.

A former pupil told Birmingham Crown Court Marcus Marcussen, 91, made boys who had just showered stand on a chair before carrying out the ritual.

Mr Marcussen, who taught at Ilmington Road Comprehensive School in Weoley Castle, denies assaulting 15 boys between 1957 and 1978.

He faces 30 counts of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child.

'Respect'

The ex-pupil described how "always-smiling" Mr Marcussen, who taught at Ilmington Road from 1945 to 1983, would grab undressed children in the changing room and pull them into his lap.

"He would sit you on his thigh and shake his knee up and down," he said.

He said he told his mother what was happening after boys had showered but she thought nothing of it.

"She said not to worry, he was just making sure you were dry," he said.

"Back then teachers were up there with respect. She did not think it was out of the ordinary."

Sometimes Mr Marcussen, of Rochford, near Tenbury Wells, would take pupils to the Square Club swimming pool where they were not allowed to wear trunks, the witness said.

"He would come in on occasions and he would walk around," he said.

"Sometimes he would just be looking at you."

Sharon Bailey, defending, asked if the witness's memories could have been clouded by the passage of time or if he could have been influenced by conversation with others.

The witness said: "I remember absolutely everything that went on in that gym area and at the Square Club and he knows full well."

The trial continues.