A pupil who was allegedly pinched on the bottom and had his towel pulled down by former teacher Simon Warr while at school has told a court it made him feel “embarrassed and confused”.

Warr, of Hounslow, has denied three offences of committing an act of gross indecency towards a child between 1980 and 1983 and four offences of indecent assault between 1981 and 1993. The three alleged victims were all under 16 at the time of the offences.

The offences are said to have occurred when the 61-year-old taught at St George’s School in Great Finborough and the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook.

Yesterday a witness for the prosecution said Warr had “randomly” pinched a number of boys “on occasion” during his time at one of the schools. He said the pinches were “short and sharp” but “not lingering”.

He also told Ipswich Crown Court Warr, a House Master at the Royal Hospital School, would supervise the boys showering for longer than other teachers who substituted for him when he was away.

The witness described Warr as an “exuberant” man who would take part in karaoke sessions with pupils to celebrate the successes of students’ in his house, sometimes dressed as Michael Jackson or Gary Glitter.

Matthew Gowen, defending Warr, suggested to the witness that a motive for Warr pulling down his towel was because he had called him ‘Pecker’ under his breath, a nickname used by some of the boys.

He denied this, saying the name was “clearly disrespectful but it was not vindictive”. He also said he had generally been on good terms with Warr while at school.

Another witness said he remembered boys being told “remember to wash your private parts” by Warr when showering.

But he added he had no recollection of being touched by Warr and never saw him touching other children.

The man, also a former pupil, added Warr dealt mostly with senior school boys and not those in the junior school, of which he was part.

He also said he remembered Warr being in the headmaster’s study on one occasion when he was being punished, which involved him being hit with a bat on his bare bottom, but that Warr did not take part in administering the punishment.

The trial continues.