A FORMER music teacher told a court today (Friday) that a girl he is alleged to have abused wanted him "to go off with her" after she left school.

Peter Antonelli, 66, said of the former pupil during his evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh: "She was very angry at 16."

He said: "I know we had some sexual contact after she was 16. It happened from time to time – always consensual."

Antonelli, of Gullane, said that when the girl left school she had wanted him to split up with a woman and go off with her.

During questioning by advocate depute Chris Fyffe, he agreed that the girl was vulnerable in her own way and added that she had had the potential to become a talented musician.

Piano teacher Antonelli said that he and another girl with whom he said he had sexual relations when she was an older teenager did not publicise it. He told the court: "We kept it quiet."

He denied that he had contacted her asking her where she was and whether she had been out with friends. He also denied there was a time when she was out with friends and he "kerb crawled" her.

READ MORE: Retired music teacher accused of abuse tells trial he had sexual relationship with teenage pupil

Antonelli has denied a string of sex charges brought against him said to have occurred between 1978 and 2005 at schools in East Lothian and other locations.

He originally faced 25 charges of indecent conduct, breach of the peace, indecent assault and rape. Prosecutors withdrew eight of them at the end of the Crown case.

The trial before judge Jamie Gilchrist QC continues.