A former teacher at a north London school faces multiple charges of indecent assault involving two male pupils from the late 1980s, a court heard. Sally-Anne Bowen, 65, stands accused of eight counts relating to alleged sexual relationships with the boys, who were approximately 14 or 15 years old at the time. Bowen was in her mid-20s and taught at Christ’s College in Finchley when the incidents reportedly occurred.

The allegations, presented at Harrow Crown Court, describe Bowen engaging in sexual activity with one boy on numerous occasions, with the prosecution suggesting the encounters took place around 20 to 30 times. Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe said Bowen exploited her position by encouraging the pupils’ involvement in sexual acts despite no direct evidence of force. Wolfe acknowledged that the boys might have appeared willing but maintained that Bowen’s conduct crossed professional and legal boundaries.

One complainant told police that Bowen made him feel “special” by spending lunchtimes with him at a nearby café near the school. This boy reportedly viewed her as a girlfriend and believed he had fallen in love with her. The court was told of an incident where Bowen interrupted a group of boys looking at a pornographic magazine, took the magazine, and pointed to a naked woman’s image, claiming that the woman’s genitalia resembled her own. This interaction led to the boy accompanying Bowen to her flat in Golders Green, where they kissed and subsequently engaged in sexual activity over several months.

The boy’s mother had raised concerns about his relationship with Bowen, but when she contacted the school, she was told Bowen was no longer employed there, without further explanation. Bowen later informed the boy that she was moving to Israel to live on a kibbutz, leaving him “completely lost” and “heartbroken,” according to the prosecution.

The second pupil also spent lunchtimes with Bowen, recalling being pressured by peers to kiss her and remembering touching her breasts while they were in the café. On several occasions, the boy accompanied Bowen home, where they exchanged kisses. The prosecution argued that Bowen’s actions constituted indecent assault, emphasizing that although she was relatively young at the time, she was not a peer of the boys and had a duty to maintain professional boundaries.

The trial is ongoing, with Bowen denying all charges. The court continues to examine whether Bowen’s conduct constituted a breach of trust and exploitation of vulnerable pupils under the protections that existed at the school during the 1980s.