Girl tells court of sex assault
Thursday, 26th February 2004.
A MAN repeatedly sexually assaulted a 12 year-old, a court was told.
The girl, now aged 14, was giving evidence yesterday at the trial of 30-year-old Thomas Thirlwell.
Thirlwell, on trial at Ipswich Crown Court, denies three charges of indecently assaulting the girl and one of gross indecency with her as a child under 16.
The girl's main evidence was in the form of a video of her being interviewed by a woman police officer.
Then she was asked questions via a live closed circuit television link to a room outside the courtroom.
She was cross examined by defence barrister Samantha Leigh.
During the main part of her evidence, the girl said Thirlwell, of Stoke Road, Clare, near Haverhill, was 28 and she was 12 when he touched her private parts under her knickers.
She said it felt "horrible" and she was too ashamed to tell anyone what happened.
She claimed he indecently touched her on several occasions, including touching her bare breasts after removing her upper clothes. He had also got her to perform an indecent act on him, she alleged.
He had done all this despite her telling him she did not want it, she claimed.
He had also said to her: "When are we going to have sex". She said her reply was: "Never".
The court heard from Gareth Branston, prosecuting, in opening the trial, that when Thirlwell was interviewed by police he denied any sexual behaviour with the girl.
The trial continues.
The girl, now aged 14, was giving evidence yesterday at the trial of 30-year-old Thomas Thirlwell.
Thirlwell, on trial at Ipswich Crown Court, denies three charges of indecently assaulting the girl and one of gross indecency with her as a child under 16.
The girl's main evidence was in the form of a video of her being interviewed by a woman police officer.
Then she was asked questions via a live closed circuit television link to a room outside the courtroom.
She was cross examined by defence barrister Samantha Leigh.
During the main part of her evidence, the girl said Thirlwell, of Stoke Road, Clare, near Haverhill, was 28 and she was 12 when he touched her private parts under her knickers.
She said it felt "horrible" and she was too ashamed to tell anyone what happened.
She claimed he indecently touched her on several occasions, including touching her bare breasts after removing her upper clothes. He had also got her to perform an indecent act on him, she alleged.
He had done all this despite her telling him she did not want it, she claimed.
He had also said to her: "When are we going to have sex". She said her reply was: "Never".
The court heard from Gareth Branston, prosecuting, in opening the trial, that when Thirlwell was interviewed by police he denied any sexual behaviour with the girl.
The trial continues.
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