Talbot's Weather Map Antics Hid Dark Secret

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By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

Fred Talbot's weather forecasts from a floating map in Liverpool's Albert Dock made him a familiar face to millions across the UK.

But those watching his antics on ITV's This Morning had no idea he had a past as a teacher who preyed on vulnerable pupils for his own sexual gratification.

His trial in Manchester heard that he was "obsessed with teenage boys" and "could not help himself," especially when he had been drinking alcohol.

The abuse happened in the 1970s and was carried out during Talbot's time as a biology teacher at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.

Victims described how they were forced to sleep naked with Talbot on canal barge school trips organised by the teacher.

Prosecutor Neil Usher told Minshull Street Crown Court "the very qualities that made Fred Talbot so successful as a TV celebrity - his boundless energy, his infectious enthusiasm, his extrovert personality - helped him gain, we say, the trust of these boys".

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Gallery: Diaries Seized By Cops Helped Convict Talbot

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Stone Roses singer Ian Brown appeared in court to give evidence for the prosecution.

A former pupil, he recalled Talbot teaching 11-year-olds to masturbate during a biology lesson and showing the class what was "probably a gay porn film".

The trial heard how Talbot's teaching career came to an abrupt end in 1984 when he propositioned a boy at his home and was forced to resign.

Only then did he pursue a career in TV.

Talbot's own diary entries were seized by police and formed a key part of the prosecution case.

An entry from 1969 read: "What I am doing with the kids means a lot to me, but it may be the wrong thing.

"I find that my mind is never at rest. I am in conflict about many things. Teaching will not make me rich, is that important.

"What is more interesting than a smoking, swearing and copulating 15-year-old."

In 1984 he wrote: "At night a group of the 4th years round to use the telescope. Later joined by some of the 6th years... A very clear night. The 4th decided to stay the night. As usual I had quite a bit to drink and as usual I tried. I must be mad".

Lawyer Richard Scorer, head of the abuse team at Slater and Gordon solicitors in Manchester, told Sky News it was unusual for abusers to keep diaries in this way.

"Typically what we find it we're dealing with is very manipulative people - they know that abuse is secretive, that it happens beyond the eyes of most people so they generally don't leave traces of what they're doing," he said.

"I think certainly in other cases where we've seen this kind of behaviour - paedophiles keeping diaries of their activity - there has been an aspect of it which is around the trophy, celebrating what they're doing and the fact that they're able to get away with it despite knowing, as Talbot clearly did, that it was totally wrong."

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