BRITAIN: Mr Ian Huntley was the focus of a schoolgirl crush just weeks before he allegedly murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, his Old Bailey trial heard today. A youngster got "too close" to the caretaker at Soham Village College and had to be spoken to by the vice-principal.
The court heard that Mr Huntley's predecessor was sacked the year before, following an "inappropriate relationship" with a 13-year-old girl.
As a result all applicants for the vacant post, including Mr Huntley, were grilled on what they would do if a girl at the school was attracted to them.
His barrister, Mr Stephen Coward QC, cross-examining the college's vice-principal, Ms Margaret Bryden, said: "Because of previous history, there were concerns. Therefore, all applicants were asked tricky questions."
Mr Huntley had said that, should such a situation arise, he would report it to a senior member of staff.
Mr Coward said: "In actual fact, it happened, did it not? It happened in July. It was reported to you and dealt with by you."
Mrs Bryden said: "It was not only reported to me but reported to the principal as well. I dealt with it with the girl in question."
In a phone call on August 8th, four days after the girls disappeared, Mr Huntley complained to Mrs Bryden he was "being hounded by the press and police and he needed to go away for the weekend", she said.
