Hull man denies Rotherham schoolgirl abuse

Robert Jamieson (49), “befriended” the young girl and “took advantage of her”, Sheffield Crown Court was told.

He denies ten child sexual offences including two counts of sexual activity with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecency with a child.

Jamieson is accused of sexually abusing the girl in Rotherham between 1999 and 2003, when she was aged between 12 and 15 and he was in his late teens and early 20s.

Mr Gurdial Singh, prosecuting, said: “The complainant, when she was aged between 12 and 15, thought she was in a relationship with this defendant.

“She had very strong feelings for him.

“She thought she was in love with him and she thought he was in love with her.”

Mr Singh said Jamieson was “clearly aware of her age”.

He added: “The fact she may have agreed to what went on is no defence.

“There was an initial investigation but (the complainant) refused to cooperate and without her the case couldn’t go any further.”

Mr Singh said that first investigation happened when the complainant was about 17.

“She told officers she knew it was wrong but at the time she didn’t feel it was,” said Mr Singh.

He said the fact that the complainant was now a mother to a teenage daughter, and she did not want a similar thing to happen to her, had encouraged her to come forward.

He said it was the prosecution’s case that Jamieson had been grooming the girl.

“He befriended this young girl when they were together, showed her affection and took advantage of her,” said Mr Singh.

“The defendant was arrested and interviewed and he denied the allegations from first to last.

“He said the allegations were lies, though he did accept that sometimes (the complainant) would come to his house, sometimes once a week, and would sometimes stay over.”

Jamieson, of Beverley Road, Hull, denies four counts of indecency with a child, three counts of buggery, two counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and one count of indecent assault.

The trial continues.