A PENSIONER raped and indecently assaulted two children over a 16-year period, a court heard yesterday.

Jeremiah Cummings’ alleged victims were aged seven and five when he is said to have started abusing them.

The 75-year-old is on trial at Bradford Crown Court, accused of ten counts of rape and seven of indecent assault against two girls.

The court was told that one of the girls was raped and abused numerous times between September 21, 1965 and September 21, 1973, while the younger one was targeted between February 26, 1976, and February 26, 1984.

The court heard evidence yesterday from one of the alleged victims, now in her mid-50s, who said Cummings raped and indecently assaulted her in places such as Manningham Park, Bowling Park and derelict houses off Rooley Lane, Bierley.

In a police interview video, she said: “Lots of times I told him I don’t want to, but he coaxed me into it. When you’re a child, you don’t understand anything different.

“When you think about it now, you feel like you should have done something.”

When asked how she coped when the attacks were taking place, she said: “I would look at the sky and wish it was all over and done with.”

The court heard that some of the indecent assaults happened while Cummings was giving the girls a piggy back.

Prosecutor Kirstie Watson said: “He would say not to tell anyone as it was their secret.”

In 1998, the older alleged victim told her doctor, when she was being treated for depression, about the abuse, the court heard. She told police in 2013.

Miss Watson said: “This is a girl who told her doctor a long time before these matters were reported to the police.”

Miss Watson said the second alleged victim, who is now in her mid-40s, screamed and cried during one attack, but that Cummings hit her and told her to shut up.

Miss Watson also said Cummings was arrested on suspicion of abusing the younger complainant - during the period of the alleged abuse - but released without charge.

Cummings, of Arncliffe Road, Batley, appeared to fall asleep several times while evidence was being given yesterday.

The trial continues.