A TEENAGE girl wept in the Royal Court as she described being sexually assaulted by a 64-year-old man at a party.
She was giving evidence on the first day of the trial of Gordon Burnett, who is accused of sexually touching her without consent.
Mr Burnett is said to have put his hand up the teenager’s skirt and inside her underwear against her will. He denies the allegation.
The alleged incident is said to have taken place in the early hours of the morning. The teenager said she was standing near the bar at the venue when Mr Burnett approached and spoke to her, before putting his arm round her waist and his hand under her skirt and up to her underwear.
Opening the prosecution case on Monday, Crown Advocate Mike Preston said: “This must have been terrifying and shocking for the young girl.”
A Centenier who happened to be at the venue to investigate a noise complaint was told about the other incident, and called the States police.
The teenager was then taken to Dewberry House sexual assault referral centre.
The jury heard that no trace of Mr Burnett’s DNA was found but Advocate Preston said: “Why would she make this up if it didn’t happen?”
Interviewed by police officers the following day, Mr Burnett said he had been too drunk to remember the alleged incident, but Advocate Preston said: “Being drunk is no excuse.”
Advocate Mark Boothman, defending, asked the girl: “Are you sure that alcohol didn’t affect your recollection?”
She wept as she responded: “Yes.”
The court also heard that she had refused a full examination at Dewsberry House, with Advocate Boothman asking: “Did you refuse because the forensic evidence would show that you weren’t touched by the man in the way you say you were?”
Still sobbing, she replied: “No.”
The trial continues.
