Youth club doorman denies sex assaults on young girls

Website: Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Date: 02/09/2008
Link : http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/youth-club-doorman-denies-sex-assaults-on-young-girls-1-931247

The doorman of a youth club in Northampton had separate sexual relationships with three under-age girls, a court heard.

The Man, 50, is accused of rapes and sexual assaults on three girls - one as young as 11 - after allegedly grooming them by buying them clothes and restaurant meals.

At Northampton Crown Court he denied two rapes, four indecent assaults, two allegations of sexual assault and sexual activity with a child over an eight-year period.

Ann Cotcher QC, prosecuting, said: "The defendant met all three girls while working as a doorman for a Jesus Army youth club in Briar Hill.

"The Crown says he committed sexual offences against these three girls, using his position to spend a great deal of time with them."

The jury heard how the man met one of his alleged victims when she was 15 and started a sexual relationship with her before meeting another under-age girl.

Ms Cotcher added: "Between July 2000 and May 2004, we say the defendant engaged in repeated acts of indecent assault with the second girl. She was then 13.

"And between March 2005 and May 2007, as far as the third girl is concerned, there were repeated sexual acts and also sexual intercourse. During that period, she was aged 11 to 13 years.

"On September 23 last year, the youngest girl reported a complaint of physical assault against this defendant but gave more details and disclosed she had been having sexual intercourse with him from the age of 11. She said she would have told before but was scared of him."

The man took the girls, whose identities are protected by law, to his then home in Ringway, Briar Hill, where the acts are alleged to have happened.

Ms Cotcher said: "It's important to make clear that there's no suggestion the eldest girl was forced or threatened. This is not a case where they were forced against their will to do something they did not want to do.

"Whether right or wrong, she agreed to it but she was 15 years old and the law does protect girls aged under 16.

"Any girl under 16 years of age cannot consent in law. It is no defence in law for the defendant to say they agreed to it because the law will protect young people. The defendant accepts knowing the youngest girl and the prosecution say he knew full well how old she was."

The man, of Crow Lane, Northampton, pleaded not guilty to all charges. He denied any sexual activity took place apart from with the eldest girl, who he claimed was over 16 before any sexual activity happened. The trial continues.