AN ALLEGED victim of child rape has told a jury she was too scared to tell anybody that a former senior doctor had sexually abused her.

Dr Paul Grout MBE, of Stanley Street in Ulverston, is on trial at Preston Crown Court accused of five counts of child rape.

Alastair MacDonald KC prosecuting told the jury the alleged offences took place in South Cumbria in 2020.

Mr MacDonald KC added that Grout did not have a set pattern of work due to his position as a consultant in emergency medicine in A&E, as well as being deputy medical director for Furness General and Westmorland Hospitals.

The court heard the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, first reported the rape allegations to her favourite schoolteacher.

When questioned in cross-examination about why she decided to do this, she answered that she was scared and almost ashamed of opening up to anyone about what had happened because of the power that Grout possessed.

She also told the prosecution she was scared the defendant could do something to harm her or her family.

Mr MacDonald KC told the jury when opening the case that the defendant allegedly raped the girl ‘repeatedly’ when she was between 11-12-years old.

When asked about the allegations, the alleged victim said: “He sexually abused me quite a lot of times. I do not exactly know a number, it was more like 10 times, but it could have been more than that.

“I was worried he would come and sexually abuse me more.

“I have no reason not to tell the truth about what happened.”

Doctor Caroline Jones, a retired GP and forensic physician who examined the child also provided evidence in court.

Grout was suspended from work in 2021 with The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service also imposing restrictions on his practice pending the outcome of an investigation.

The trial continues.