Photo: WENN
Stone Roses frontman and solo indie icon Ian Brown has appeared in court to testify against former teacher and weatherman Fred Talbot, who he claims once made his class watch a 'gay porn film' and urged them to masturbate for 'homework'.
Talbot is currently on trial for 10 counts of sexual assault against five boys in a period between the 1960s and 1980s, during which he was a teacher at Altrincham Grammar School - and taught Ian Brown. Brown however, is not one of the complainants.
Appearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today (January 27), Brown spoke out about how Talbot took an 'interest' in young boys, would ask them if they ever masturbated, would 'mutter' in the ears of boys who confessed to pleasuring themselves, and claimed that his class were even shown a 'gay porn film' by the teacher.
Talbot denies all charges of sexual assault, the trial continues.
See Tweets of all testimony from Brown by ITV court reporter Rob Smith below:
The Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown is now giving evidence in the case against weatherman Fred Talbot.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Mr Brown was a forme pupil at Altrincham Grammar School. He says Mr Talbot was his Biology teacher in a "very violent school".
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown says he was "glad" that Mr Talbot wasn't violent as a teacher.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown tells jurors the teacher asked pupils if they'd ever pleasured themselves. He described how to, then said: "Go home and try it."
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
In the next lesson, Mr Brown says, he wanted to know who'd tried it. "Boys were to raise their hands" he tells the court.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
During another lesson, the singer says Mr Talbot took pupils into a darkened room to show what he describes to jurors as a "gay porn film."
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown tells the jury it was "years later" that he realised the film was not about "sex education", and Mr Talbot was "wrong" to show it.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Mr Brown says his then Biology teacher would walk around class, and "mutter" quietly in the ears of boys who'd tried pleasuring themselves.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown tells the court that seeing Fred Talbot, as a TV weatherman, was a "daily reminder of what he'd done" as a teacher.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
The defence question the rock star's memory of classroom events: "Didn't you think it was strange?" Ian Brown: "I didn't know any different"
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Mr Talbot's defence suggest Ian Brown's seeing past events in a "different light." He responds: "Suggest on. You're paid to defend him."
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Under cross-examination on the "sex act" homework, Ian Brown tells the defence: "I doubt any curriculum says that. Maybe you know better."
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Defence say Mr Talbot showed pupils a film on "childbirth", not a "porn film": "Your evidence can't be right." IB: "No - he showed it."
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Mr Brown says he's told people "many times" what Fred Talbot "had done", when he'd seen him on TV while others were "in the room."
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown's finished giving evidence in the Fred Talbot abuse trial. The evidence of the next witness can't be reported for legal reasons.
— Rob Smith (@robsmithitv) January 27, 2015
The Guardian's Helen Pidd added:
Brown: he didn't tell his parents about the masturbation homework because "it was 1974. We were 11; the teachers ruled with an iron rod"
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown tells Talbot's QC he has "nothing to gain" from lying. "You're bring paid to be here. I'm not." Says he's supporting classmates.
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) January 27, 2015
Ian Brown says he spent the rest of his school days avoiding Fred Talbot. Went from a B in biology to a U.
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) January 27, 2015
Talbot's QC asks if Brown blames Talbot for him failing biology. His reply: "I don't blame anybody for anything. I couldn't care less."
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) January 27, 2015
As a testy cross-examination draws to a close, Ian Brown insists he has an "exceptional memory" & has "no reason to exaggerate".
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) January 27, 2015
