A teacher raped a vulnerable pupil at a girls’ boarding school decades ago, a court heard.

John Aldridge, 66, was a maths teacher at Bedgebury School near Cranbrook when he was alleged to have sexually abused the girl.

Maidstone Crown Court was told the headteacher became aware of what was going on and Aldridge was dismissed.

“As time passed, she struggled about what happened to her and it had a profound effect on her daily life,” said prosecutor Paul Valder.

“The death of her parents... prompted her to report to the police what the defendant did to her as a teenage girl.”

She told officers Aldridge, who has since retired, invited her to flat and kissed her. He later undressed her, touched her and forced himself on her, she claimed.

“She didn’t like it, but he kept on,” Mr Valder told the jury.

“She told an officer he raped her and took her virginity. Despite that, she went back to his flat regularly.

“He would stroke her arm and tell her how pretty she was. He made her believe they were actually in a relationship and in due course they would live together.

“It seems she went to him for comfort. She felt safe in his flat. You may think she was in his thrall.

“He was hauled before the headmaster. The police were called. The defendant was sacked. She felt humiliated.”

After the complainant reported the matter to the police, officers interviewed the former headmaster.

He said it came to his attention the girl was a regular visitor to Aldridge’s flat. Aldridge maintained he was merely helping her with her maths.

The head said she was not to go there again, but he heard that it continued. He questioned Aldridge again and he admitted having sex with the girl.

He consulted the school governors and it was decided that Aldridge should leave.

Aldridge, of King Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, denies rape.

The trial continues.