Man denies sex assaults including rape of girl, 3

13 April 2012

A man accused of raping a three-year-old girl told a court today that he did not do it and he has no idea why the child would lie.

James Dean is accused of raping the girl and also forcing a nine-year-old to perform a sex act on him and watch a pornographic film, as well as committing a sex act in front of a seven-year-old.

The 20-year-old said that he does not know why the girls would accuse him and he does not know where they had learnt the graphic detail they describe in the alleged offences.

Dean, of Torpoint, Cornwall, is charged with two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of raping a child under 13 and one count of sexual assault on a child under 13.

He denies all charges.

At Plymouth Crown Court, Devon, defending barrister Paul Rowsell said: "It is alleged by the crown that you sexually abused the three girls. Is there any truth in that?"

Dean replied: "No."

Mr Rowsell asked: "Is there any reason why these three girls should say these things happened if they haven't?"

Dean said: "No."

The court also heard from the interview Dean gave to the police after his arrest.

He told officers that he believed the girls may have learnt about sex from the oldest, who was nine at the time, who he said would talk graphically about sex acts after learning about them at school.

When he was interviewed he was told the charges against him refer to him unzipping his jeans and he said that he did not own any pair of jeans with a zip, only one pair of shorts, all the others either had an elastic top or buttons.

The court was shown two pairs of jeans, which belonged to Dean and were seized by police along with four pairs of shorts - and they all had zips.

He told the court he had not worn them for a long time and had forgotten they had zips.

Detectives asked him about his sex life and he said: "I wouldn't call myself a sex maniac, I am sex mad.

"I do want sex a lot. The problem I have is going on and on about it."

Prosecuting barrister Llewellyn Sellick put it to Dean that he was sexually frustrated because he had not had sex for three months.

"You were frustrated," he said. "You took out your frustration in that appalling way on those three little girls."

Dean said: "No."

This morning the court heard from the mothers of the children.

One of them, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I asked her if he had ever been rude, she said yes.

"I told her no one is allowed to touch her, she said James can."

The trial has been adjourned until 10.30am tomorrow when the jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict.

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