Last updated at 12:50, Monday, 13 August 2012

A MAN in his forties has been accused of having sex with an under-age girl.

• Related article: Barrow man, 44, guilty of sex with child five times
• Related article: ‘I’m not hiding anything,’ says Barrow child sex accused

Stephen Cooksey

A jury heard suspicions were raised by contact between them, but Stephen Cooksey insisted nothing untoward had happened.

The 44-year-old, of Stackwood Avenue, Barrow, is on trial at Preston Crown Court where he denies five allegations of sexual activity with a child.

The prosecution case is that he had full sex with the girl, knowing her age.

Mr Paul Cummings, prosecuting, told the court that an adult became suspicious because of the amount of time the girl would spend on the phone and also sending text
messages. There was concern when the defendant was said to have called the teenager while she was on a bus, upset at the thought of not seeing her again.

Cooksey went on to insist nothing untoward had taken place between them.

When told the matter had been reported to the authorities, he allegedly became upset and said “I am going to prison.

“I would rather commit suicide than go to prison”.

The girl went on to reveal to someone, when asked, that she had been having sex with the defendant, said Mr Cummings.

She went on to tell police that sex had occurred between them.

The defendant was arrested and interviewed.

Mr Cummings added: “He made it very clear nothing of a sexual nature had happened between him and the girl.

“He fully accepted there were regular telephone and text messages between him and the girl.

“In effect, he is saying she’s lying, that she had made it up.

“He says he doesn’t know why she would do that”.

The trial continues.

First published at 16:22, Wednesday, 08 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk