Didcot brownie leader accused of abusing teen girl

Fiona Bowden, 50, has been accused of initiating an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl in the early 2000s while living in Didcot.

She allegedly developed ‘sexual feelings and attraction’ towards the teen.

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Reportedly, a relationship began between the pair while Bowden was in her late 20s and married to her husband, Michael.

Fiona Bowden leaving court (Image: NQ)

She now stands trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with six counts of indecency with a child, four counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of incident a child to engage in sexual activity.

Bowden has denied all offences, allegedly telling police when she first interviewed that no sexual touching had ever taken place but admitted the pair had kissed once consensually.

Opening the case, prosecutor John Benson told a jury that the complainant, who is now an adult, had confided in Bowden as a teen after being diagnosed with mild depression.

He said: “On the face of it, it was a friendly and compassionate gesture. [The girl] reached out to the defendant and she said she had issues at home.

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“The defendant and [the girl] became very close. The defendant confided in [the girl] personal details such as her marriage to Michael was not good.

“The prosecution say the relationship with [the girl] developed into something much more.”

Mr Benson said Bowden had first allegedly touched the girl over her clothes before telling her she had feelings for her and loved her.

“[The girl] believed this,” said Mr Benson. “She allowed the relationship to progress so the sexual intimacy became a frequent, almost daily event.

“The prosecution say quite simply that the defendant fell for this 15-year-old.”

One alleged assault happened while the defendant and the girl had been swimming and the pair had shared a changing room.

Bowden allegedly told the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, during the assault: “Don’t let them hear you.”

The reported incidents continued for about two years until the defendant and her family moved to Lampeter in Wales where they live today.

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Police first became aware of the allegations when the girl first made a report in early 2021.

Mr Benson said: “The defendant had shown her that attraction and love and [the girl] had responded and [the girl] developed a love for the defendant – it’s a sad case in that respect, is it not?”

The trial continues.