By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 11:59, Tuesday, 20 November 2012

A trainee teacher has gone on trial at Carlisle Crown Court accused of abducting five 12-year-old boys by taking them on unauthorised trips.

On the first day of his trial, a jury heard how police had also asked 20-year-old John Nathan Alexander Dougan about a claim that he had shown one of the boys a picture of the naked lower body.

Dougan, of Chaucer Road, Workington, has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of child abduction.

Rob Dudley, for the prosecution, said the trips happened after the defendant, a second-year trainee teacher, volunteered for a west Cumbrian youth organisation.

The barrister said he was told the organisation’s policies included issues such as not being alone with children unless it was a necessary part of the job and the need for parental consents.

“He spent most of his time working in the kitchen,” said Mr Dudley. “He was never asked to take children on trips.”

The barrister then went on to outline five days out that the prosecution say he took the boys on.

Each time, he gave the boys lifts in his own car and the parents of each child later said they would not have given their permission.

One child later told police Dougan showed him a picture of his penis on his mobile phone.

When asked about this he agreed there had been pictures of either his or his partner’s penis on his phone but said the boy had seen it after spotting his phone left on view while driving.

“As a result, he deleted the photo to stop it happening again.”

Dougan agreed he took the boys on trips, saying they were bored but said that he did not know the organisation’s rules.

The case continues.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk