A WORCESTER teenager has claimed her self-employed driving instructor molested her at his family home after she failed her test.

The girl, who cannot be named, said Stephen Burge offered her a cup of tea to console her after her second driving test, in January this year.

As she had an hour-and-a-half to wait for her train to Worcester, and Burge's next lesson had been cancelled, she accepted the invitation from her instructor.

Relaxed

However, she alleged at Gloucester Crown Court that when the father-of-three daughters arrived home he grabbed her and kissed her repeatedly on the mouth.

"I had been having lessons from him for 10 months and he had been a good instructor," she said.

"I felt totally relaxed with him and I trusted him."

Burge began talking about how his relationship with his wife was no longer physical and the teenager began to feel uncomfortable, it was alleged.

"He moved towards me and put his arms around my waist," she said.

"Then he started kissing me on the mouth and then on the head.

"I did not know what to do. I did not even know where I was. I just stood still. I think I said 'no' a few times."

She also alleged that on the way back to the train station, 43-year-old Burge suggested she book driving lessons in return for sex.

Burge, of Abbeymead, in Gloucester, admitted taking the girl to his home to console her and help book her next driving test, but denied anything "untoward" had happened.

While he made the telephone call, he claimed she became upset so he put his arm on her back - their only contact - and said, "don't worry".

Kissed

"The only time I have ever been kissed by someone is when they ran towards me after passing their test and kissed me," he said.

"I have never tried to kiss anyone. My job would be on the line for it."

He added that the teenager said she would be in touch, and the driving instructor also denied suggesting two-hour lessons so they could spend an hour at his home.

The trial continues.