Published at 16:41, Friday, 22 February 2013

A BARROW man accused of raping a girl and subjecting her to other sexual abuse has denied the allegations against him.

David Thomson gave evidence to a jury at Preston Crown Court yesterday to insist: “Nothing ever happened.”

The 47-year-old defendant, of Whinsfield Avenue, Barrow, denies a total of eight charges which include one of rape and three of sexual activity with a child.

The prosecution claims a girl fell asleep at an address in the Furness area and woke to find Thomson touching her in a sexual way. She is then said to have “freaked out”. It has been alleged the defendant raped her while she was “out of her head” on ecstasy.

In his evidence Thomson denied a series of allegations put to him. The questions included if he had ever gone to hotels to have sex with strangers or had any interest in “swinging”.

Thomson said the thought disgusted him. He said he was first made aware of the claims when he was arrested.

He gave a prepared statement to police and after that did not answer questions put to him.

At the start of the trial, Mr Martin Hackett, prosecuting, said the alleged victim had spoken of what happened while being treated for a depressive illness. The police went on to become involved. She made a complaint to police in 2011 over the alleged abuse.

The trial continues.

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