Overview
- The defendant, 65-year-old Deborah Franklin, is on trial at St Albans Crown Court accused of eight counts of gross indecency over alleged offences in the early-to-mid 1990s.
- Prosecutors say the complainant, now in his 40s, described repeated sexual acts including being blindfolded, tied to a bed and subjected to penetrative acts at locations including Watford.
- The complainant first reported the incidents to police in 2024 and court were told he has consistently recounted the core allegations over many years.
- Franklin has denied the charges while giving evidence and told jurors she could not remember tutoring the complainant, saying only that small memories have returned from photos and legal discussions.
- Defence witnesses praised Franklin’s character and the defence argues the case hinges on one person’s word against another, leaving credibility and corroboration as the central issues before the jury.