Pensioner on trial for sex attacks 40 years ago

A Clevedon pensioner carried out a string of sickening sex attacks on two little girls 40 years ago, a jury has heard.

Ronald Smith allegedly left one child physically ill after he forced her to perform sex acts on him.

The 73-year-old, of Hayward Close, Clevedon, was said to have molested the child between the ages of seven and 15 and only stopped when she threatened to stab him.

Smith was said to have abused a second child under the age of 14 as she sat on his knee.

He denies six charges of indecent assault and two charges of indecency with a child.

Giving evidence in Smith's trial at Bristol Crown Court one alleged victim told how Smith began touching her private parts when she was just seven-years-old.

Describing the first time she was abused she said: "I went to the bathroom one evening and I didn't lock the door and while I was washing my hands Ron came in and closed the door and locked it.

"He started to touch me and I tried to pull away and he said 'its alright it's going to be our secret'.

"He pushed me against the sink and was rubbing himself up and down.

"It just made me feel dirty, sick and very uncomfortable."

She said he had also assaulted her as she sat on his knee and had forced her to play with his private parts.

She said Smith was always smelly and unwashed and she would scrub herself clean after.

"I was sure people could smell him on me. I used to scrub and scrub but I could smell him on me even though I had washed a few times.

"I used to close my eyes and pretend it was a dream then run off to the bathroom to wash myself. I used to be physically sick," she said.

Jason Taylor, prosecuting, told the jury of seven men and five women that the abuse ended when the girl was 15 and she threatened to stab him.

Telling how Smith had abused a second child, Mr Taylor said: "The allegation involved Smith inviting her to sit on his lap and touching her under her skirt."

He said the sex attacks only came to light after one of the women contacted Smith desperately seeking an admission from him.

When none was forthcoming she went to the police and he was arrested.

In interview the defendant told officers the lady was in "cloud cuckoo land" and "making up a fancy tale".

He claimed the allegations were made out of spite.

The trial continues.