A FORMER senior doctor on trial for child rape has strenuously denied the allegations, a court heard.

Dr Paul Grout MBE is currently on trial at Preston Crown Court facing five counts of child rape in South Cumbria in 2020.

Alastair MacDonald KC prosecuting alleges that Grout ‘repeatedly’ raped a girl when she was aged between 11-12 years old.

He said the complainant first reported the incidents at her school by leaving a note on her teacher’s desk, and that she later confirmed to the safeguarding lead at the school that the defendant had allegedly sexually assaulted her.

In cross-examination, the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Tim Storrie KC, representing the defendant on Wednesday (February 7) that said she first reported the rape allegations in school because she was scared that Grout could do something to harm her or her family.

READ MORE HERE: Alleged victim of child rape says she was too scared and ashamed to tell anybody

Mr MacDonald KC told the jury when opening the case: “Over the period of time he was abusing her, she behaved no differently towards the defendant. She would act as though nothing had happened.

“The prosecution say that it is common for children, who have been sexually abused, in any circumstances, not to complain immediately to an adult and it can be no surprise that she did not complain straight away.

“In short, she was, at the age of 11-12 years old, a young child unequipped with the emotional maturity and life experience to deal with these issues.”

The court heard there were no positive DNA matches, and that the defendant had no previous convictions.

Giving evidence in court on Thursday (February 8), Grout defiantly refuted the allegations.

He said: “I firmly believe sexual intercourse should be between two consenting adults.

“The thought of having sex with a child is absolutely abhorrent to me. It is not something I would do.”

In response to Mr MacDonald’s line of questioning, Grout answered: “I absolutely refute that I raped this girl repeatedly throughout 2020. The thought of having sex with a child to me is repugnant to me.

The court heard the defendant did not have a set pattern of work due to his position working as a consultant in emergency medicine in A&E, as well as being deputy medical director for Furness General and Westmorland Hospitals.

He was suspended in 2021.

An independent medical tribunal also imposed restrictions on his practice pending the outcome of an investigation.

A spokesperson for the public body confirmed that an investigation was ongoing.

The trial continues.