Married Girl Guide leader had sex with 15-year-old schoolgirl nearly every day for nearly two years, court hears

A female Girl Guide leader had sex with a 15-year-old school girl over the course of almost two years, a court has heard. 

Fiona Bowden, 50, is accused of 12 offences against the girl who suffered psychological problems. 

The offences are alleged to have taken place in the early 2000s when the girl was aged 15. 

The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Monday. 

Prosecutor John Benson told the jury: 'This case involves allegations of sexual abuse... between a girl who was 15 when the abuse started and an adult woman who abused her, who was some 12 years older than the girl.

The court heard that the girl had suffered psychological difficulties seemingly stemming from an incident when she was younger.

The jury was told that Bowden gave the girl her phone number after she had approached her for advice about some troubles she was experiencing. The prosecutor said this was, 'on the face of it, a friendly and compassionate gesture.'

Mr Benson said that the girl later reached out to Bowden.

The court heard that Bowden and the victim became close - something evidenced by the Guide leader confiding in the girl, saying her marriage to her husband 'was not good'.

The prosecutor described an evening where Bowden and the girl were sitting on a sofa together, sharing a blanket. The defendant's husband, Michael Bowden was in same room but on another sofa.

Mr Benson told the jury that Fiona Bowden started rubbing her foot against the girl.

The court heard the contact was of a sexual nature and left the girl feeling confused. 

Mr Benson said: 'That initial sexual contact by the defendant towards the girl left her confused, as you might understand,' the prosecutor told the jury.

'After that incident the touching became frequent,' he added.

Mr Benson told the jury that Bowden believed she loved the teenage girl.  

Bowden told the girl of feelings she had for her and that she loved her. The girl believed this, the court heard.

Mr Benson went on: 'Sexual intimacy became regular and a frequent part of their lives. It became an almost everyday event. The defendant had fallen for this 15-year-old girl.'

The court heard that the complainant believed they 'loved each other.' After a week of no sexual activity, Bowden told the girl that she missed her and wanted to kiss her.

The jury was later told that Bowden and her family moved from Didcot, Oxfordshire to west Wales, ending the interactions between the defendant and the girl.

Bowden, who now lives in Lampeter, west Wales, attended a police interview in Wales on February 24, 2021.

Mr Benson said: 'She denied she had ever formed a relationship with the girl or that any sexual touching had ever taken place.

'She mentioned one occasion when the girl had been upset and they had stood facing each other and they had kissed.'

'The defendant said it was "a joint decision there and then".'

The jury was told that the kiss lasted a few seconds and they had pulled away in disbelief that it had taken place.

Mr Benson added: 'That kiss is a illuminating incident.'

Bowden is charged with six counts of indecency with a child, four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The trial continues at Oxford Crown Court on Monday.