A Norfolk headteacher has denied harassing a woman who spurned his love-interest, including demanding she go with him to Sandringham to mark the death of the Queen.
Gregory Hill, 48, is accused of hounding the object of his unwanted romantic advances for more than a year including bombarding her with social media messages.
The headteacher of Howard Junior School in King's Lynn is also said to have requested that she personally accompany him to Sandringham.
He was pictured with pupils from the primary school speaking to the Prince and Princess of Wales as they visited Sandringham a week after the death of Queen Elizabeth II to see flowers and tributes left at the gates.
Hill, of Valley Way in Fakenham, pleaded not guilty at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to harassment without violence between March 2022 and February 22 this year.
READ MORE: Howard Junior School head Gregory Hill arrested
He also denied obstructing and resisting police on March 6 as they arrested him in front of parents and pupils outside the school where he has been head for more than 10 years.
The court was told the alleged harassment began when he had contacted the woman on Twitter after telling her he wanted to start a romantic relationship.
He is said to have then sent numerous Twitter and Whatsapp messages including making comments about her appearance, confronted her in an aggressive manner and took photographs of her car.
He is also alleged to have made comments about a lesbian relationship and about her family and partner.
Hill was told he will stand trial over the charges at King’s Lynn and Norwich Magistrates Court on June 25, 26 and 28 next year.
The case is expected to include evidence from 19 witnesses and police video and CCTV, the court was told.
READ MORE: Princess of Wales comforts Howard Junior pupil after tribute to the Queen
District Judge David Wilson approved an application for the alleged victim to give her evidence remotely via video link rather than facing Hill in court.
Defence counsel Mathew Dance said they were seeking the full 33 minute long unredacted police body-worn video footage of the headteacher’s arrest.
Judge Wilson granted him conditional bail banning him from contacting or entering the premises of Howard Junior School or Parkway in King’s Lynn.
Conditions also include that he not make any reference to the victim or the court case in any social media posts, and notify police of any existing or new social media accounts.
READ MORE: King's Lynn Howard Junior rated inadequate after head arrest
Leaving court he continued to protest his innocence saying he was a “respected headteacher” whose work had “made international headlines”.
Howard Junior, which is the only school overseen by the Apollo Academies Trust which Hill was also chief executive of, gained a high profile during his tenure.
He renamed it Harry Kane Junior School after the England captain during the World Cup in Qatar.
He said the change would be permanent if England won the tournament, while Mr Kane said he would visit it if the Three Lions lifted the trophy.
However, following his arrest an emergency Ofsted inspection rated the school as inadequate saying “serious failings” had been “unchallenged for too long”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article