A FORMER teacher accused of sexual activity with a pupil asked her friend to delete emails and photographs of them together, a court heard.

Russell Woolwright, a teacher at the prestigious Canford School at the time of the alleged offences, denies two charges of causing or inciting sexual activity with a girl as an adult in a position of trust.

Giving evidence at Bournemouth Crown Court, the alleged victim’s friend said Woolwright, 30, of Well Close, Bristol, contacted her through the school email system.

Under cross-examination, the girl admitted she withheld information from police when first interviewed and added: “We agreed not to say certain things.

“We did not want to reveal everything that had happened because we thought he would get into trouble.”

The jury has been told the alleged victim met up with Woolwright, who no longer teaches at the school, in nearby Wimborne where the offences are said to have taken place.

The trial continues.