Derbyshire man accused of sexually assaulting child when he was a teenager said he was never left alone with her

Giving evidence in his own defence in the trial at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday, March 2, Mark Hamilton, told the court that he recalled being spoken to by the child’s mother, but had never acted in an inappropriate manner towards her.

It is alleged that Hamilton removed the child’s underwear and touched her between her legs on a number of occasions over a six-month period during 2008 and 2009.

The court heard that Hamilton, 28, of Kinder Way, Buxton, was 15 at the time the alleged offences occurred and the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 18.

On the second day of the trial, Hamilton, who denies four counts of sexual activity of a child, took to the stand.

Speaking in his own defence, he told the court: “I never touched her in any sexual way. I never touched her in any way that would cause concern. I was never left alone with her and I don’t know why she’s saying these things and there’s no truth in what she’s saying.

“Her mother told me not to be alone with her, but I was never alone with her.”

But in cross-examination, prosecutor Sarah Phelan accused Hamilton of ‘lying’.

She said: “You pulled her pants down and you touched her vagina, and you did that on more than one occasion, and you are not telling the truth about what happened.”

The trial continues and the jury is expected to go out tomorrow.

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