A TEACHER accused of a sexual relationship with a boy pupil said his actions have had a “traumatic impact” on his family.

Peter Nathan Smith, 38, of Pilling Lane, Scissett, is accused of abusing his position of trust between December 2006 and June 2007 after grooming a teenage pupil and having sex with him.

Smith, a married man, has denied the allegations but admitted having sex with the student once he had left the school in 2010.

Yesterday at Leeds Crown Court, when asked whether he had engaged in a sexual relationship with the pupil, Smith said: “Yes I have.

“Those sexual acts took place in 2010.”

Smith, who told the court he “was and still is a happily married man” left his job at the West Yorkshire public school where the alleged offences took place, and went to work at at a centre in the south of England in 2007 after being promoted to assistant head.

As his wife had been promoted in Leeds and their house was yet to sell, the couple decided that she should remain in West Yorkshire while he went to work in the south for a year.

It is during this time he claimed he first became attracted to men.

He said: “While being absent from my family I became curious in relation to being attracted to men and that developed over time to the events that did take place.

“My wife became aware of the relationship the day after I had been arrested when I told her everything.”

The father-of-two was not allowed to enter his home after the arrest and was prevented from seeing his children.