THE jury in the case of a youth project worker who allegedly used his car as a meeting place to kiss and cuddle a 14-year-old schoolboy, has retired to consider a verdict.

26-year-old Christopher Midgley was working at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy when he committed a ‘gross breach of trust’ and began an inappropriate relationship with a pupil, the prosecution claimed.

Preston Crown Court heard Midgley was part of the academy’s Entrepreneurship team, encouraging young people to develop their business ideas.

Midgley, of Brookside, Coppull, Chorley denies eight charges, including four charges of sexual activity with a child and four charges of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.