Man (54) denies raping young girl

A 54-YEAR-OLD man has gone on trial accused of grooming and raping a girl more than 30 years ago.

Martin Coles, of Highthorn Road, Kilnhurst, appeared on Tuesday at Sheffield Crown Court, where he denied five counts of rape and 18 of indecent assault, allegedly committed between 1977 and 1983.

His accuser, a 47-year-old woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims Coles began abusing her when he was a schoolboy and she was aged around five.

In an interview played to the jury, she told police that Coles began by making her touch his private parts.

After doing this “a couple of times”, he further sexually assaulted her, the woman said, and made her perform sex acts on him.

She told police she had resisted and was left “disgusted” by the abuse.

Miss Clare Ashcroft, defending, suggested that Coles was rarely alone with the complainant and would not have had the opportunity to abuse her so regularly.

She added: “I’m going to suggest that at no stage has he ever made you touch or rub his penis.”

The woman replied: “Yes, he did.”

The trial continues.