The alleged victim of sexual exploitation at the hands of a St. John’s teacher does want to tell his side of the story, but not in open court.

In an affidavit filed with the court, the 21-year-old young man, who was 16 at the time of the alleged offence, says the stress and anxiety of the entire affair to date has been hard on him.

And he says that would only be exacerbated if he has to testify in open court, with the accused teacher, Krysta Grimes, in the same room.

Instead, he wants to tell his story by closed-circuit TV from another room.

Such requests are not unusual in sexual assault trials but the onus is on the Crown to prove it’s warranted and necessary.

In this case, the defence says it’s not, suggesting if there was sexual contact it was consensual, and even instigated by the young man—adding it’s far different than forced sex involving younger victims.

It’s not enough just to be uncomfortable, said defence lawyer Rosellen Sullivan, adding “I can guarantee you Ms. Grimes is pretty uncomfortable.”

Grimes faces a single charge of sexual exploitation going back to the alleged incident in 2018, when she was a substitute teacher at Gonzaga high school.

The judge will decide how the young man will testify tomorrow morning, when he’s scheduled to take the stand.