THE owner and former chair of governors of a North Yorkshire private boarding school has gone on trial accused of abusing pupils and other teenagers over nearly two decades.

Brian Richard Martin, 68, faces 24 sexual charges involving five children allegedly committed between the early 1980s and 2010.

Some of the alleged victims were pupils at Queen Ethelburga’s School near York at the time, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Opening the prosecution, Mark McKone said: “The prosecution say Brian Martin sexually abused five children linked to Queen Ethelburga’s School.

“He was not a teacher, but he owned the land where the school was based and can be regarded as the owner.

“He was also the chair of governors and the principal trustee.

“He lived on the premises and was present on the premises and had a lot of contact with children.”

Martin, of Farnham Lane, Ferrensby, Knaresborough, denies eight charges of indecently assaulting a boy, one of taking 12 indecent photographs of a child, three of an attempted serious sexual offence, one of a serious sexual offence, three of sexual assault, two of indecently assaulting a girl, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity when in a position of trust over them, one of inciting or causing a child to engage in sexual activity and three of sexual activity with a child.

One of the complainants was allegedly abused from when he was 14 until he was about 19, the others were aged 12 to 16.

Two of the complainants were girls at the time, the other three were boys. All are now adults.

Opening the prosecution, Mr McKone alleged Martin tested the first complainant to see if he could “control” him.

Martin claimed a celebrity was interested in teenage boys, and wanted to meet the alleged victim.

The celebrity has given police a statement stating that she didn’t know anything about Martin or his claims, Mr McKone said.

Martin progressed from making him take off his shirt or strip naked under the pretence of checking to see if he had needle marks from taking drugs to more serious forms of abuse.

He also took 12 nude and sexual pictures of the boy, claimed Mr McKone. The police have not found the photos.

The first complainant was allegedly abused in a cottage on Martin’s estate, at Thorpe Underwood Hall, in his car and in hotels in Wetherby and Croydon, claimed Mr McKone.

The barrister will continue his opening tomorrow. The trial is expected to last some weeks.