A TRIAL of a Suffolk school teacher accused of indecently assaulting a teenage former pupil was halted today after the girl broke down in tears at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court.

A TRIAL of a Suffolk school teacher accused of indecently assaulting a teenage former pupil was halted today after the girl broke down in tears at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court.

The 16-year-old girl was being cross examined by solicitor, Julian Christopher, on the second day of the trial of Frank Schmidt, a RE teacher.

Chairman of the bench, Judge Gareth Hawkesworth, dismissed the jury for 15 minutes in order for the girl to compose herself.

Schmidt, 34, is accused of indecently assaulting the girl between July 14 and August 14 last year.

He denies the charges.

During the opening of the trial Martin Evans, prosecuting, said the committed Christian, arrived uninvited at her address one morning.

Mr Evans said he asked her for a hug: "He told her to lie down on the bed so 'I can give you a proper hug'.

"That involved, as far as he was

concerned, clasping her closely to him, kissing her on the mouth, putting his tongue in her mouth and quite

deliberately, according to the victim, brushing one of her breasts with his hand."

Mr Evans said the victim was "very upset" by what happened but the defendant told her to relax and she went to shower. As she returned she told him the incident should never have happened.

The court heard they spent the next few hours together but Mr Evans said: "The longer he (Schmidt) stayed, the more uncomfortable she became. She even invented a story that she had to meet a friend but he asked if he could have another hug.

"She agreed not thinking he would misbehave as before but he did misbehave a second time."

He said Schmidt pulled her down on the bed and rubbed her back. The defendant then began stroking her body "quite forcibly" before touching her with his hands and orally on intimate areas of her body.

The victim was in a "complete state of shock" and pointed out to Schmidt that he had been her teacher, said Mr Evans. But he forced himself on top of her and ordered her to kiss him.

"She did but not in a sexual manner. She then managed to get him out and he said he would visit again but added, 'nothing like this will ever happen again'."

In police interviews, Schmidt, who was arrested in November shortly after the victim reported the allegation, denied any wrongdoing.

He admitted visiting his former pupil and stressed they exchanged a "fond" hug rather than anything sexual.

The case continues.