A former Taranaki secondary school student has told a court how her teacher forced her hand onto his crotch in the middle of a music lesson.
Ludovicus Michael Stassen, 62, of Lepperton, went on trial in New Plymouth District yesterday on three charges of indecent assault against two girls, The Taranaki Daily News reported.
The Crown says Stassen, who arrived in New Zealand 37 years ago from Holland, was a music teacher at Stratford High School in 2006 when he offended against a 14-year-old girl.
Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich said Stassen indecently assaulted the same girl on separate occasions.
She told the court of being grabbed by the accused as he walked past her towards his office and about a private lesson she had with him.
"He wanted to do a duet, so I sat next to him," she said. "He grabbed my wrist, I thought he was going to show me what keys (to use), but he didn't.
"He put it on his thigh and then he ran it up his leg to his crotch. He just held it there."
She denied making up the allegations.
The second girl said the accused grabbed her in a school corridor and put his hand on her bottom in September last year.
Under cross-examination, the girl admitted the corridor was crowded with students.
Two other students told the jury they saw Stassen put his hand on the girl's bottom as they walked down the corridor.
When interviewed by police Stassen said he had never done anything that was indecent and any incident would have been accidental.
The trial is continuing.
