A Kingswood man sexually abused a young girl as he sang her nursery rhymes before telling her it was “their secret”, a court heard today.

Vernon Foale, 70, of Drive Spur, Kingswood, faces four charges of indecently assaulting a young girl in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Mr Foale denied all charges and insisted any touching was “innocent” and “purely accidental”, when interviewed by police in August 2015. He pleaded not guilty at Guildford Crown Court on March 14.

Opening the trial today (Monday, September 26) Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, summarised the allegations levied against Mr Foale during an interview conducted by Surrey Police last year.

The victim – who cannot be named for legal reasons – told Surrey Police Mr Foale placed his fingers on or in her vagina on four occasions between June 16, 1989 and December 31, 1995. She would have been aged between two and eight years old during this period.

Mr Prosser told the court the victim alleges that on the first occasion she was sitting on Mr Foale’s lap. Mr Foale allegedly placed a pillow across her legs, before touching her.

The victim recalls a “very wet and cold” feeling between her legs.

She said that during the second assault, she was with Mr Foale while he sang “children’s songs or nursery rhymes”, Mr Prosser told the court. Mr Foale then placed his hand inside her knickers.

Two further attacks also took place, she claimed, where Mr Foale again touched her vagina.

During the opening to the trial, Mr Prosser referred to a statement written by the victim. It read: “When I think back to it, I know it all happened and that it was terribly wrong, but I think in the moment I never thought it was scary.

“He looked after me at the time.

“He told me it was a secret. It was our secret. And he told me not to tell anyone.”

Mr Foale denies all four charges of indecent assault.

Mr Prosser told the court Mr Foale was arrested on August 24, 2015, and subsequently interviewed by Surrey Police. In a prepared statement Mr Foale “categorically denied” all charges, Mr Prosser said.

“He says that he did not sexually abuse (the victim) and any contact was not sexual in any way and occurred during play,” Mr Prosser added.

“He says that the contact, such as his hand brushing across her breast or her bottom was purely accidental.”

The trial continues.