A BRADFORD man, who is accused of raping and sexually abusing a young schoolgirl, today told a jury he had never done anything sexual towards her.

Giving evidence on the second day of his trial at Bradford Crown Court, 31-year-old Paul Holt said he had no idea why the child had made the allegations.

Bespectacled Holt, who was smartly-dressed in a suit and tie, insisted he had never raped the girl or sexually assaulted her.

Holt, of Whytecote End, Wyke, Bradford, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of rape of a child under 13, one of assault by penetration and one of sexual assault of a child.

The prosecution alleges Holt sexually assaulted the girl on one occasion when she was eight years old and then raped and sexually abused her between the ages of nine and 11.

Prosecutor Philip Standfast has told the jury the girl confided in her schoolteacher last September about the abuse after a lesson on sex education and being safe.

She told police that Holt would take off his clothes and put his hand over her mouth while raping her. In an interview with specialist officers she said Holt told her not to tell anyone and that she would not be believed. She said she let the abuse happen because she was scared.

Asked by his barrister, Jon Gregg, today if he had sexually abused the girl on the occasion when she was eight, Holt told the jury: "Never."

Referring to the girl's allegations of later sexual abuse, Mr Gregg asked: "Did you sexually assault her?" Again, Holt replied: "Never."

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Holt told the jury he had worked as a butcher and fishmonger for two supermarket chains for ten years, but he lost his job because he had been off sick. He had been given a fixed penalty notice in 2006 for shoplifting, but had no other convictions.

Questioned by Mr Standfast, Holt admitted he got the girl to massage his back, but said it was just the girl being friendly towards him.

Mr Standfast asked: "Did you find it sexually stimulating when she was massaging your back?"

"Never," Holt replied.

Holt said he stood by his police interview, when he said he had no idea why the girl claimed he had raped her.

Questioned further by Mr Gregg, Holt said the massaging was just the girl squeezing his shoulders. He said she had done it voluntarily.

The trial continues.