A former Methodist Church leader exploited his position of power to sexually touch women who feared that reporting him could damage their reputations, a jury has heard.
The prosecution has completed its opening case in the trial of Rev Steven Wild aged 72, of St Ives at Truro Crown Court.
Wild, a former chairman of the Cornwall Methodist District and former president of the Methodist Conference, faces 11 charges involving five women.
They comprise ten counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He denies the allegations.
The jury was previously told that the first woman to raise concerns felt she had been “fobbed off” and received “no real help at all” from people within the church.
The prosecution said the woman attempted to avoid Wild after an alleged incident following a religious service in Cornwall.
However, she encountered him again on another occasion, when he allegedly put his arms around her, made noises and repeatedly kissed her cheek inside a chapel.
She was shaking and crying, the court heard, but Wild allegedly continued until another person entered.
“I'm standing there shaking and crying, so there's no doubt that he knows I don't want this,” she said in interview.
Later that day, he is accused of putting his arm around her.
“He had his arm around her against the base of her back...with his hand over the waistband of her trousers,” said the prosecution. He said, ‘You're sure I can't tempt you with anything?’
“And [she] remembers thinking she didn't care whether what he was saying was intended to be an innuendo. Mr Wild then left.”
The woman subsequently told a friend what had happened but allegedly “got an earful” being told: “You can’t say things like that about him” and that Wild was “wonderful”.
The prosecution said she was also told not to waste anyone’s time by reporting it.
Jurors were then taken through allegations involving four other women connected to the Methodist Church.
One woman alleges Wild placed both hands on her bottom and applied pressure for around five seconds after hugging her at an event in 2005.
She later told her partner what had happened but did not formally report the allegation until she saw coverage of a safeguarding review involving Wild in 2021.
Another woman alleges Wild touched the small of her back while praying with her in 2011.
The prosecution described the alleged contact as intimate, unwanted and unrequested.
She alleges he touched the same area again while praying in 2015.
The court heard she complained to a senior church official, after which she understood Wild was not to be alone with her.
Despite this, the prosecution said there were further occasions when Wild prayed beside her while touching her waist and lower back.
The fourth woman said in 2014 Wild allegedly placed a hand on her knee before sliding it beneath her skirt and onto her thigh.
The woman moved away and crossed her legs, causing his hand to fall away, the jury heard.
She alleges that in 2018, Wild stood close to her, put his hands on her back and shoulder and pressed his groin against her thigh.
A further incident is alleged to have taken place in 2019, when Wild is accused of approaching her from behind and putting an arm around her chest.
The woman felt nobody within the church would support her because people in positions of power were close to Wild, the prosecution said.
She also believed his behaviour would be dismissed as “just Steve being Steve”.
The fifth woman alleges Wild placed his hand high on her thigh. He allegedly kept it there for several minutes while telling a story to the group.
The woman felt unable to say anything at the time as she feared repercussions, the court heard.
Read more
Ex-PC lied after swinging drunk prisoner into wall, misconduct hearing told
Woman ‘fobbed off’ after raising concerns about former Methodist leader, trial hears
Council leader accused of 'total b******s' over response to another top job absence
She told a colleague about the alleged incident the following year.
Prosecutors said Wild’s seniority and reputation for being “tactile” helped him disguise sexual touching and made it difficult for them to challenge him.
The jury was told some of the alleged incidents took place in front of other people but were not questioned because physical contact had become accepted as part of Wild’s personality.
Wild denied all the allegations when interviewed.
In interview he accepted that he hugged and kissed people as a greeting but denied touching any of the women sexually or in the ways they have described.
In relation to touching during prayer, he said any contact would have been for pastoral care.
The trial continues.
Share