A MARRIED former policeman has admitted he had a number of relationships with teenage youths, but insisted they were all above the age of consent.
Former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Philip Gaisford, formerly of Colburn Avenue, Caterham, faces sex charges involving nine alleged victims, five of them underage, at Lewes Crown Court.
Mr Gaisford took to the stand to defend himself last week, and categorically denied having sexual contact with anyone aged under 16.
He did admit that a number of teenage boys, who cannot be named in order to protect their identity, had taken part in "naked massages" at the farm.
And he also confessed to going on scuba-diving trips to Thailand and sharing a room with teenagers.
But when defence counsel Alan Kent read out indictments relating to having sexual relations with underage boys or non-consensual sex, Gaisford replied "no".
He spoke about one teen, whom Mr Kent called "the catalyst" for the ensuing charges.
They were, Gaisford said, in a relationship after he taught him to scuba dive and bought him expensive presents for his birthday before the relationship went sour.
He added: "We were for want of a better word, boyfriends. I loved him and he loved me."
He also admitted to lying to police in an interview when quizzed about his relationship with two young men.
He said: "What I left off of my comment, did I have any sexual activity, I purposefully left off 'in the way you [the police] alleged.'
"It wasn't the whole truth but I wasn't trying to be dishonest."
When the interviewing officer said he would leave "no stone unturned" in the investigation, Gaisford replied: "What about the thousands of people I have been in contact with who say Philip Gaisford is the most great teacher?"
The trial is now in its sixth week at Lewes Crown Court, and is due to finish by the end of the month.
Gaisford faces 33 charges. He denies nine offences of indecent assault, two of rape, one count of indecency with a child, four of sexual activity with a child, four sexual assaults, three attempted sexual assaults and ten counts of possession of indecent photos and videos.
He also denies perverting the course of justice.
The case continues.
