Girl, 10, sobs as she tells court of sex assaults

A YOUNG girl sobbed as she described how she had been sexually assaulted by a man almost six times her age.

The 10 year old described how 57-year-old Derek Dissington abused her four times within a matter of weeks. She said in a video interview with a police officer that she was scared because she did not want it to happen. The child said she had been afraid to tell anyone what he had done and hadn’t wanted to go through the same ordeal again.

Dissington, of Goodwood Road, Oldham, denies four counts of sexual assault on the youngster and claims he was never alone with her.

But Rachel Widdicombe, prosecuting, said: “The Crown’s case is that this was intentional touching, and that it was sexual. We say that once you have heard all the evidence you can be sure that he did assault her.”

The jury at Manchester Crown Court was told the girl had been afraid to say anything but eventually told her mother.

The mother had realised something was wrong because her daughter started “playing up” and her behaviour deteriorated. When she finally admitted what had gone on, Dissington was arrested.

The case continues.