THE CLOSING arguments in the trial of a Haverfordwest primary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting 11 children have been heard at Swansea Crown Court today (Apr 30).

In her closing statement, the prosecuting barrister, Clare Wilks told the jury that they must consider the evidence concerning James Oulton, 34, fairly and remain unemotional.

Ms Wilks described the defendant as “an extremely popular teacher at the school who had ample opportunity to act.”

She told the court how his actions were “deliberate and subtle”, and that James Oulton had “perfected his technique so not to get caught.”

But Defending, QC Chris Clee told the jury that it would be easy to think the “weight of numbers must mean he is guilty” but asked the jury to also consider the numbers of students Oulton has taught throughout his career – 673 pupils.

Chris Clee QC said the 11 children who have made allegations against him amount to just 1.7% of the children he had taught.

He reminded the jury how the burden to prove guilt lies with the prosecution and it is not down to the defendant to prove his innocence.

Mr Clee added that Oulton was cautioned at the start of each interview, and despite the prosecution accusing the defendant of “setting up his defence” and accusing him of “getting more savvy as the interviews went on”, he had no obligation to answer any of the questions put to him in the initial interviews.

He added: “He chose to answer every question and give evidence in this court, he didn’t have to do neither.”

Oulton’s barrister told the jury that DC Evans, the investigating officer in the case, held the view that his client’s primary reason to teach was “to get closer to children, especially girls.”

He told the court how Oulton volunteered all passwords to electronic devices that the police seized.

He said that if the prosecution is right in this case, that the fact Oulton was able to carry out these events in broad daylight without being caught was a stroke of “extraordinary luck”.

Turning to the credibility of the prosecution witnesses, he told the court how ten of the eleven victims had “positive feelings towards James Oulton.”

Responding to the prosecution case that Oulton kept the cards and letters from the children as “some form of insurance or trophy” – he added, it was a “straightforward common sense it was evidence of affection the children felt for James Oulton.”

Clee branded another witness a “bully” saying there was clear collusion between them – as another witness went along with her as she was “scared of her” and said that it “snowballed from there”.

He added: “It is inconsistent, unreliable and not worthy of belief.”

Tackling the accusation made by one of the witnesses that Oulton had a cupboard in his classroom which contained alcohol and party invites for the children, he said these allegations were “entering into the realms of fantasy”.

QC Clee also accused DC Evans of cajoling the witnesses during their interviews, with a police officer asking one child: “Is there anything else? I feel like you’re holding back?”

Speaking of the six defence witnesses who gave evidence in support of Oulton, he said: “They were prepared to come to court and give evidence in support of him.

“By giving evidence that tells you the allegations are not true.”

However, the adult witnesses were not willing to be named in the media, and the defence applied for a press gagging order saying that they would be reluctant to attend court to support Oulton otherwise. The order was granted.

The case will continue Tuesday, May 4.

It is expected that there will be a verdict in the case next week.