THE trial of a man who emigrated to Australia 16 years ago who is accused of sexually abusing two girls more than 35 years ago has begun at Bradford Crown Court.

Christopher Hardaker, 62, of Hodd Way, Western Australia allegedly abused the girls over a number of years starting in the late Seventies.

Prosecutor Gerald Hendron told the court in his opening speech how Hardaker is being tried on 11 counts of indecent assault against two girls, one aged between 10 and 14, and another aged between seven and nine, and four counts of rape against the older girl.

The incidents are alleged to have happened when Hardaker was living in Eccleshill, and he has been accused of raping one girl on numerous occasions.

Hardaker denies the offences, and Mr Hendron said: “His case is the accounts are untrue and are fabricated.

“He says her never had any sexual contact with them at any time.”

Mr Hendron laid out his case to the jury, saying it is alleged the first instance of abuse by Hardaker was while he was setting up a film in his house.

He said Hardaker sexually assaulted the girl by touching her while his wife and the girl’s father were in the next room, and was speaking to her father while he did it.

He said another assault happened in his van in a car park when Hardaker had given the girl and her mother a lift and he only stopped when the girl’s mother appeared at the window of the van.

Mr Hendron also said Hardaker raped the girl numerous times and made her crawl up the stairs so his neighbours would not see them together.

Hardaker is also alleged to have raped her in a quarry on the day of a family gathering.

Mr Hendron said the girl was upset by people drinking too much, and her mother told Hardaker to take her away to calm down.

He said: “He took her to the quarry and raped her despite her crying and saying no as he did so.

“They then went back to the party and her mother asked if she had calmed down. The defendant said she had, and he had the ‘magic touch’.”

Mr Hendron said the girl told a teacher she thought she was pregnant, but when her mother was called in due to fear she said she had lied about it.

He added while on a school residential trip she told a priest what had happened, but the priest blamed her.

When she returned, Mr Hendron said she told Hardaker if he tried anything else she would scream, and he stopped.

Hardaker is also accused of sexually touching a second girl between the ages of seven and nine on at least four occasions, which he also denies.

The trial continues.