A MAN recalled finding a sexual relationship with an older teacher when he was a young teenager as, “exciting”.

But he told a court that even as a 13 or 14-year-old boy he knew what was taking place with the married woman, at her home when her husband was away, was “not right”.

The evidence was given by the alleged victim of Anne Lakey, then head of history at a Wearside comprehensive school, but who has since gone on to become an acclaimed head teacher in County Durham.

Described as a “manipulative” sexual predator, the prosecution claim she groomed the boy before conducting the relationship over several months in 1988 or 89, when she was in her late 20s, at least 15 years older than him.

He told Durham Crown Court that he was one of a number of friends allowed into the home of the defendant, then known as Anne Toland, before she began inviting him on his own, often when her husband was at work.

She would phone in sick from her job and even posed as his mother to call his school to report his absence when the liaisons took place.

He told the court that she became more “flirty” and the first sexual incident was when she allowed him to fondle her breasts, as, “a dare”.

His first taste of sexual intercourse came after she let him watch her bathe before they retreated to a bedroom.

But he said the sexual relationship went on for several months.

Asked by prosecuting counsel Caroline Goodwin how he felt about it, he said: “I was quite excited I had done that at that stage of my life.”

Asked what he thought of the relationship, he said: “I knew we shouldn’t have been doing it.

“I was under age and she was married, but I didn’t think it was wrong like I do now.

“I wasn’t looking at it like an adult.

“I knew we shouldn’t have been doing it, but it was exciting as well.

“I was a lad in my early teens. Lads in their early teens, that’s what they want to do.”

He finally reported her actions 23 years later after looking on the internet for play groups for his own daughter, in December 2012.

He saw a picture of Ms Lakey accompanying an article stating how she cared for the futures of young people.

“When I saw that I thought you have a funny way of showing it and I was angry.

“If you care for young people so much you don’t go having sex with young boys.”

Although he did not attend any school where Ms Lakey taught, he knew she was a teacher.

It led to the arrest of Ms Lakey, who has since remained suspended from her post as chief executive of the Durham Community Business College, a federation of schools in Sacriston and Ushaw Moor.

Now 54, of Oxhill Villas, Stanley, she denies four counts of indecency with a child and five of indecently assaulting a child.

The trial continues tomorrow (Thursday June 26).