Teacher, 78, at Rishi Sunak's old school is cleared of kissing 'emotionally ... trends now
A former teacher at Rishi Sunak's old school has been cleared of kissing an 'emotionally vulnerable' male pupil.
Simon Taylor was accused of 'falling in love' with the teenage boy at Winchester College who he would kiss and 'awkwardly spoon' on his sofa.
'Shakespearean fanatic' Taylor told jurors that although he 'cared' for his ex-pupil - their relationship had been 'strong and appropriate'.
The 78 year old, who taught at the English and Drama at the College between 1990 and 2013, admitted hugging the pupil after a 'traumatic' production of King Lear, which he directed.
However, he said that he never kissed the pupil because 'lips have a memory for kissing and you don't forget who you kiss'.
Simon Taylor, who is a former teacher at Rishi Sunak 's old school, has been cleared of kissing an 'emotionally vulnerable' male pupil
Winchester Crown Court, where Taylor was today cleared of two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust, following a one-week trial
Prosecutors alleged the 78 year old - who has been credited by Downton Abbey star and ex-student Laura Carmichael for his 'amazing' teaching at the college - 'fell in love' with the boy after directing him in King Lear.
He was even accused of sharing a bed with the 'emotionally vulnerable' former pupil - who cannot be named for legal reasons - after the boy's school leaving party.
But father of three Taylor said he never invited the student round for tea but was instead assigned to offer pastoral support by the boy's housemaster.
He said teachers and pupils 'naturally and frequently' formed close connections and said he was 'certainly not in love' with the boy.
Taylor was today cleared of two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust, following a one-week trial at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire.
Giving evidence Taylor had said emotions were high on the last night of his King Lear production on the last day of term one Easter in the mid 2000s.
'King Lear is very traumatic - probably the best tragedy ever written,' he said.
'Everyone was hugging each other. I was in the green room and [the pupil] came to me and hugged me.
'Clearly he needed comfort and I hugged him back and that was the end of it.'
He denied inviting the boy round for tea.
Pictured is part of Winchester College, which was founded in 1382 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Britain, charging boarding pupils almost £52,000 a year
Taylor told the court he agreed to the student's housemaster suggesting he meet with the 'problem boy'.
'I never invited him to my house,' he said. 'The agreement was [the housemaster] would speak to him and say I would be available to see if he wanted, but he couldn't expect to see me automatically every time.
'As a result my eldest son would often open the door and say "sorry, Dad's out at rehearsals". That would be the pattern throughout the rest of the visits.
'I would never invite him, he was welcome to come anytime he felt he needed..'
Taylor said during
