Defence lawyer: Teenager's sex abuse claims "a pack of lies"

THE lawyer defending a Rotherham market trader accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy branded the claims of his accuser “a pack of lies”.

Mr Dermot Hughes, defending Charles Morgan (47) put the 17-year-old complainant on the spot at Sheffield Crown Court today.

But the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, insisted Morgan had performed sex acts on his three times — with another boy looking on.

Morgan, of Midland Road, Rotherham, faces 20 allegations of sexual abuse from six complainants, spanning the years 1989 to 2016.

Complaints to police were made by four men, one woman and a teenage boy.

The teenager claims Morgan abused him twice in the defendant’s home and once in a van at Cleethorpes between 2015 and 2016.

One time, the boys were at Morgan’s house eating pizza and drinking cider while watching a movie, the court was told.

Morgan went to bed at around 11pm and when the boys tired at around 1am they went upstairs to find him, the jury was told.

One of the complainants said that he had been left sickened and scared after being abused by Morgan and worried that telling anyone might bring more harm.

But Mr Dermot Hughes, defending Morgan, pointed to gaps and inconsistencies in the teenager’s accounts to the court and police.

The complainant said: “I don't know 100 per cent of the detail but I’m 100 per cent sure about what happened to me. I don't need to lie about it."

Mr Hughes asked the teenager why he visited Morgan’s home a second time after suffering a “serious sexual assault”.

The complainant answered: “I don't know what went through my mind. I don't think you expect something like that. Forgive and forget. But it’s not as easy as that.

Mr Hughes asked: “What were you doing in a van who has attacked you on two occasions?”

The witness replied: “I don't know. I forgot about them. I put them to the back of my mind. I had other things to think about like my GCSEs.”

Mr Hughes asked whether he had ever discussed the alleged incidents with his friend.

The witness answered that he feared word of the attacks getting around his school.

Mr Hughes said: “I invite you to accept that this is a complete pack of lies.”

The witness answered: “It's not, unfortunately.”

Mr Hughes suggested that the witness had made up the accusations after Morgan had declined to give him a job on his market stall — something the teenager denied.

Morgan denies all 20 counts, which include rape and sexual assault. 

The trial continues.