A YOUNG woman has given evidence to a jury about abuse she says she suffered as a child of eight or nine.

The complainant, who cannot be identified, gave evidence over live link in the trial of Richard Fern, the man she says incited her to carry out a sexual act upon him in Worcester.

Fern, who went by the nickname 'Fudge', denies causing or inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity as his trial got underway at Worcester Crown Court continued today.

The 49-year-old, now of Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, denies the offence alleged to have taken place in Worcester between June 14, 2007 and June 13, 2009. She alleges that he grabbed her hand during a sex act.

She was cross-examined by Nicholas Berry, for Fern, about her disclosure to a social worker that she had been sexually abused by Fern. The woman told her social worker about the alleged abuse on July 18, 2017 and the social worker telephoned the police on July 26, 2017.

"Up until this point you had never reported the matter of being sexually abused to anyone?" said Mr Berry.

"No I hadn't" said the complainant.

Mr Berry put it to her that she had told her social worker of another sexual assault by the defendant which she had not mentioned to police. The complainant told the jury: "I can't remember saying that."

She said this other sexual assault had never taken place, adding: "I don't recall saying that."

Mr Berry asked her if there was a possibility she did say that and she answered 'no'. "I wouldn't have said something like that to her if it didn't happen" she said.

The barrister said: "He had never sexually abused you before, had he?"

She answered 'no'.

Mr Berry added: "He had never made sexualised remarks to you, had he?"

"No" she said.

The barrister continued: "He had never before made any sexualised physical contact with you?"

Again she answered 'no'.

Mr Berry put it to her that Fern had never sexually assaulted her and she said: "Yes, he did."

She had said in a previous, video recorded interview from August 14, 2017 that she was 'scared to say no' to him.

The trial continues.