A former teacher has been convicted of tying a young boy to a bed, blindfolding him, and committing multiple sexual acts over three years during private tutoring sessions. Deborah Franklin, 65, from Radlett, Hertfordshire, was found guilty of eight counts of gross indecency against the victim, who was aged between nine and 12 in the 1990s.
Abuse During Tutoring Sessions
Franklin gained the trust of the boy's parents to access his bedroom for private lessons. At St Albans Crown Court, she sat emotionless and claimed not to remember tutoring the then 9-year-old. However, jurors heard she took off her clothes, kissed him, made him touch her, and performed multiple sexual acts. The abuse was discovered when the victim's sister found Franklin under her brother's covers during a lesson.
Prosecutor Gavin Pottinger said Franklin was a woman 'whose boundaries were just not there.' The victim described Franklin as 'young' and 'high energy,' who 'presented like a mate' and spoke about drugs, cigarettes, and sex. The boy's sister testified that Franklin was 'fun' and 'charismatic,' and that she thought she was 'cool.'
Specific Incidents Recounted
The accuser said one sexual encounter occurred in the garage at his home, where Franklin undressed and asked, 'do you want to touch me?' On another occasion at her house, she tied him to her bed, blindfolded him, and tickled him. During another sex act, the complainant said Franklin called out her husband's name. The accuser testified that Franklin described herself as his 'girlfriend' but advised him to keep their relationship secret. He said he had 'no memory of work ever being done' during tutoring sessions.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
Franklin, who was in her 30s and married at the time, denied all charges. Judge Kamran Choudhry told the jury that prosecutors said the complainant, now in his 40s, had 'consistently recounted the substance of the allegations over many years to many people.' The first report to police was made in March 2024, leading to Franklin's arrest and charge that same month. She was suspended from her teaching and tutoring roles.
Franklin, giving evidence, claimed it was 'quite common for teachers and parents and children to socially interact.' When asked if she remembered the boy more than she admitted, she replied 'No.' Defense barrister Aisling Byrnes asked if there was 'any truth' in the allegations, and Franklin again replied 'No.' She told jurors it would not have been 'unusual' to be in a pupil's bedroom or on their bed while tutoring.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Franklin was remanded into custody, with Judge Choudhry warning she faces a 'high possibility' of imprisonment at her sentencing on October 1. The conviction brings closure to a case that spanned decades, highlighting the abuse of trust by a private tutor.
