Mr Stothard was cleared of two charges of indecent assault by the jury in the case.
A WOMAN told jurors she felt “flattered” by the attention from a teacher she allegedly had an 18-month affair with when she was just 14.
Wallasey School teacher Stephen Dickman, 58, is alleged to have had regular sexual activity with the girl in the early 1990s.
His co-accused, senior teacher and former Wirral magistrate Graham Stothard, 53, is also accused of sexually abusing the girl on a single occasion after being introduced to her by Dickman.
Languages teacher Dickman, of Kenilworth Road, Neston, denies three offences of indecent assault representing an alleged course of conduct with the girl.
Stothard, who now lives in Lagos, Nigeria, denies two offences of indecent assault.
Giving evidence yesterday, the woman, who is now in her mid-30s, told jurors how she was unhappy as a teenager and flattered by Dickman’s attention.
She alleged the sexual activity was sparked after she wrote to Dickman, revealing a crush.
She said: “I felt flattered somebody wanted to be my friend, wanted to spend time with me.
“I had a crush on him when I was 13. When I was 14, I wrote him a letter to tell him how I felt. He told me to come and see him after school, so I did and he kissed me. That was how it all started.”
The woman said the affair lasted until just before her 16th birthday. She also claimed Dickman introduced her to his friend Stothard, then 34.
It is alleged Stothard performed two sex acts on her and persuaded her to reciprocate at his Parkgate home.
Liverpool crown court also heard from a schoolfriend of the woman, who described being told of her “relationship” with Dickman at the time.
(Proceeding)
