Man, 63, admits Worcester sex assaults on young child

Graham Sivill has already pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults on the girl in Worcester but denies a penetrative assault as his trial got underway today (Tuesday) at Worcester Crown Court.

The girl's mother, who broke down in tears in the witness box, gave evidence behind a screen following the alleged sexual assault by the IT consultant in March last year.

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She told the jury she asked her daughter if she was telling the truth or lying about the allegation.

"She said she was telling the truth," the mum said.

The witness added that she believed her daughter, the girl telling her: "I'm not making it up mummy."

When she challenged Sivill, she told the jury the defendant replied: "I would never do that. I don't understand why she would say something like that."

Sivill was arrested on March 22 last year and was first interviewed the following day, saying that during the alleged assault he had grabbed the child by the crotch to stop her 'falling over' which had 'frightened the life out of me'.

In the first interview he said he was 'flabbergasted' by the allegation and called it 'a mistake'.

In a second interview Sivill said 'I'm just going to admit it', telling officers he did not wish to put the girl 'through any more trauma.'

He said the assaults were limited to 'caressing' the girl which happened on 'three or four occasions, maximum' but that no more serious form of sexual assault took place.

"I have got an interest in young girls and the way they look," he told officers.

Appearing before magistrates in Worcester on March 24, 2021, Sivill pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child under 13 by touching her over clothing between November 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 and a further sexual assault on a child between March 1, 2021 and March 23, 2021. He denies assault by penetration.

The trial continues.