Former Colchester gymnastics teacher faces child sex offence allegations

David Schadek, 62, denies two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual assault of a child.

Schadek, of Fenno Close, Colchester, is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by sending a message to the mother of one of the complainants and visiting their home address.

Opening a trial before a jury of 12, prosecutor Martin Hooper said charges relate to allegations of inappropriate behaviour with three girls, including an allegation he made one expose herself.

He is alleged to have inappropriately touched two of the complainants.

Incidents are said to have taken place between 2005 and 2017, with some alleged to have taken place in other locations across Europe.

After a Christmas party in December 2017, a witness noted he was concerned about Schadek’s “inappropriate” behaviour.

A police investigation was launched and Schadek was arrested at his home in March 2018.

Mr Hooper said: “Mr Schadek was interviewed, it was a fairly lengthy interview and he was asked about his conduct at the party.”

He denied any inappropriate conduct.

On phones seized from Schadek’s home, police found messages from the defendant to a complainant’s mother, asking her to persuade her daughter not to talk to the police.

Mr Hooper said: “There are screenshots of those messages.

"He was asked about that and he said he’d spoken to [the complainant’s mum], he’d asked to meet for a chat, he went over to her house, he accepted he said he would prefer it if the girls didn’t speak to the police.”

The jury will be played police interviews with the alleged victims in the case.

Schadek denies all charges against him.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.

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