Teacher found guilty of indecent assault against two pupils

Sally-Anne Bowen, a former chemistry teacher at Christ’s College in Finchley, was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault at Harrow Crown Court. The jury deliberated for six hours and 29 minutes before returning majority verdicts on Thursday. Bowen, 65, had taught the two teenage boys when she was in her mid-20s in the late 1980s.

Details of the assaults

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One complainant told the court that he had sexual intercourse with Bowen approximately 20 to 30 times over several months. He stated that he would visit Bowen’s home, considered her his girlfriend, and had fallen in love with her. He said he kept their relationship secret as he felt compelled to protect her, as she had instructed him not to tell anyone. The second complainant stated that he and Bowen kissed once in a cafe after being goaded by other boys.

During the trial, Bowen claimed the allegations were a “total fabrication”. She stated she had a medical condition, undiagnosed at the time in the late 1980s, which made sexual intercourse difficult and painful for her. Her partner of 36 years, Darren Scotchbrook, gave evidence stating Bowen was unaware of this condition when they met in 1990 and that sex was “clearly not enjoyable for her” as a result.

Witness accounts of classroom behaviour

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Other former pupils testified to Bowen’s behaviour in the classroom. Tobias Oliver, who did not know the victims, told the court that Bowen dressed and behaved more like teenage friends than other teachers, acting as if she were in “a Sabrina Carpenter video”. He said class conversations often strayed from chemistry to sexual topics. Oliver described Bowen as “very flirtatious” and recalled an incident where she discussed the “merits of different sexual positions” with students from a sex manual. He also described an occasion where Bowen sat on a desk and opened her legs, revealing her underwear.

Richard Luker, who was head of science at the school in the late 1980s, recalled a complaint from the first alleged victim’s mother expressing concern that the boy was planning to travel abroad with Bowen at the end of term.

Next steps

Bowen, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was granted bail. She is scheduled to appear for sentencing on November 20.