Child sex abuse trial: "Arshid Hussain told victim to have abortion"

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was “really happy” when she found out she was pregnant for the first time.

She said: “I thought we were going to get married, have a house and about ten kids.

“That was what I wanted for my life. I thought it was a really good thing. Obviously, my parents were going insane.”

She told officers in an interview, played to the jury at Sheffield Crown Court today that Hussain drove her to woodland and asked her to consider aborting the pregnancy.

She said: “He was really nice about it. He said: ‘I will stand by you and I love you, but if you keep it I will go to prison.’

"He said: ‘Everyone will blame you for me going to prison and I won't be able to protect you. But it's completely your choice.’” 

Asked if Hussain explained why he would go to prison, she said: “I knew, obviously, it was because of my age. But at the time I didn't think it was wrong.”

She added: “I did decide to have the abortion. Really I didn't want to, but if I did I would be able to be with him.

“I didn't want him to go to prison where I couldn't see him. I just wanted to be with him.

“I thought we were going to be together forever. I just thought my parents were trying to make my life difficult.”

The woman told police she fell pregnant to Hussain twice and was aged under 16 on both occasions.

Hussain's lawyers claimed that the girl was older than 16 when they first had sex, but she told officers that the last time she slept with Hussain she was only 15.

Hussain denies all of the charges against him. The trial continues.