One of the alleged victims in the trial of a Horley councillor charged with six child sex offences told the court she “felt his erection press on her back and bum on more than 20 occasions”.
Two complainants were reduced to tears as they gave evidence at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday (March 6) as they described the alleged sexual offences of 57-year-old David Jackson.
Jackson, a current Reigate and Banstead and Horley Town councillor, is on trial facing six allegations of sexual offences against two young girls.
One complainant, who gave evidence behind a screen, said she was abused by Jackson on “at least four occasions”.
She told the court that during the alleged abuse Jackson would touch her thighs, breasts and vagina while laying behind her.
She said that this had happened “less than 10 times but more than four”.
When answering questions from prosecutor Christopher May, the complainant said it happened over a period of years.
She stated that when she was around the defendant the environment was “horrible”. She said that Jackson made her “scared” and she felt like she would have to “watch her back”.
While refuting a claim from defence counsel Rupert Hallowes that she was lying about being sexually assaulted the complainant added that Jackson could be violent and once punched her in the face.
(Image: Grant Melton)
Jackson, formerly of Newlands Close in Horley, denies the charges which include two counts of sexual assault on a girl aged eight or under and another two counts of sexual assault on a girl aged 11 or under.
He also denies two charges of indecent assault against a girl aged five or under.
Recorder Stuart Trimmer heard from the second complainant, who gave evidence via video link, that she had been abused when she was as young as three.
She said she believed that it had happened on as many as 15 occasions because “if it only happened a few times then I don’t think I would remember it very well”.
Prosecutor Christopher May told the court Jackson, who is a former deputy mayor of Horley Town Council, said nothing apart from a pre-planned statement from his solicitor when he was arrested on July 31, 2015.
Up to nine people turned up with Jackson to the court to support him and sat in the public gallery through parts of the trial, which is set to run until Friday (March 9).
The case continues.
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