A SCHOOLGIRL told a court yesterday how teachers ignored her pleas for help while a classmate groped her during lessons.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told a special youth court hearing at Teesside Crown Court that the boy had grabbed her and touched her inappropriately, at the Darlington school.

The defendant denies ten counts of indecent assault last year, on four girls.

Gregor Purcell, defending, said to the 16-year-old, named as Girl C: "It must have been quite distressing to be sexually molested in class, in front of the teachers."

She replied: "When I said anything to the teacher, she just told us to sit down.

"She thought we were messing around."

The girl told magistrates that the defendant had groped her breasts and thighs "at least five times a week" in and around the school.

In a video statement played to the court, which was recorded at the time of the complaint last November, she said: "He sits with all the girls because he doesn't seem to get on with the boys.

"I don't know of him having a best friend at school.

"I always tell him to get off, but he never listens. He just laughs at me."

Girl C denied that the defendant had ever been her boyfriend.

On Monday, the first day of the trial, Girl A had claimed that the defendant had started groping her on the school bus.

Girl B said he had touched her in lessons at school and in the corridors.

The trial continues.