A Kent councillor stands accused of sexually assaulting three pupils while a teacher at one of the county’s most prestigious schools.

Russell Tillson, of Dymchurch, is alleged to have abused his position of trust to isolate and attack the Tonbridge School students.

But the 72-year-old, who has served as a councillor in multiple districts, denies five counts of indecent assaults against three boys dating back almost 40 years.

Opening the trial at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday, prosecutor Dominic Connolly said: "This case concerns allegations of sexual assaults by Tillson when he was employed as a teacher at Tonbridge School. The offences were committed on three different pupils."

"All three say they were sexually assaulted in a very similar manner, namely, that Tillson grabbed their genitalia.”

He explained Tillson worked at the “prestigious” Tonbridge School when the alleged attacks unfolded.

"It is a boarding school and some of the teachers, including Tillson, were provided with accommodation at premises owned by the school," Mr Connolly said.

He told the court that between 1980 and 2001, Tillson taught economics and was also head of sixth form.

"It is clear that he was a charismatic and successful teacher, but the Crown say that he abused his position of trust to assault three of his pupils for his sexual pleasure," the prosecutor continued.

Jurors are today expected to hear evidence from one alleged victim.

The other two former pupils claim they were sexually assaulted in the 1980s.

In February 2019, officers from Kent Police attended the private school and were provided paperwork relating to an allegation of sexual assault committed by the ex-teacher.

Tillson, of Ship Close, is said to have carried out this particular assault while offering private lessons to a child.

"[The child] was invited to go round to his house for these private classes,” the prosecutor said.

"On the first occasion he went, he was offered an alcoholic drink and was permitted to smoke. They sat on a sofa together and the teacher produced a pre-written essay."

When police quizzed Tillson he denied allegations of rubbing a pupil's legs or touching his genitals, claiming the allegations were "fiction", jurors heard.

Mr Connolly added: "When asked about his sexuality Tillson described himself as a closet homosexual.

"He said he had never had a sexual relationship with a man of any age. and said he had no sexual interest in children."

The trial continues.