A TEACHER told a court how he had sex with a schoolgirl a day after meeting her at a student trade fair.

Sharples School head of history Lee Savage said after chatting to the 17-year-old pupil during a night out at the Young Enterprise convention they ended up in bed together.

But Savage, aged 31, of Roseland Drive, Prestwich, who has been married for five years, has denied rape and indecent assault of the teenage virgin at a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Savage said the girl never told him her age and he thought she might have been 18.

The schoolmaster admitted he had been "stupid" to risk his career and his marriage.

He told the jury he had first noticed the girl when they boarded the bus in Bolton to travel to the Haven Holiday Camp on the Isle of Wight for the student trade convention. The girl who cannot be named for legal reasons does not attend the same school as Savage.

The pair began talking in the bar after a presentation on the final night of the convention. He said she had been constantly looking at him and went to sit near him.

They later met outside the bar and walked to a chalet holding hands. He claimed the girl tried doors until she found one open.

Savage said they started making love in the bedroom, but the girl claim he made her perform a sex act on him before he raped her.

The teacher, who said he had been wearing an Armani shirt and trousers plus Calvin Klein boxer shorts, described to the court how they started kissing and he went on to remove the girl's clothing. "We both seemed to be enjoying what was happening and one thing led to another."

But he had problems when he tried to have intercourse saying: "I think it was basically because I was tired and I had had quite a bit to drink. It was a disaster, full stop."

They were disturbed when someone starting shouting the girl's name outside.

Savage said: "The girl said something about not mentioning what had gone on between us to the pupils at my school. I said I would not say anything to them and I would see her at the services next day."

He said at no point had the girl objected and had not said she was a virgin. It was only the next day when the event organiser told him that an allegation had been made against him that he was aware of any problems. He was later arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting the girl. "I couldn't believe it. I felt sick," he said. He was charged with rape and indecent assault.

When asked in court about his behaviour, he added: "There is no excuse for it. It was probably something I would have got the sack for and could get the sack for, it was stupid, pointless, embarrassing."

(Proceeding)