A teenage girl was cross examined yesterday in the trial of former Abingdon chamber of commerce president Paul Townsend.

He denies 14 counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of sexual assault and four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The abuse is alleged to have been carried out by the 28-year-old over a two-year period against four girls aged 13 to 16.

Yesterday one of Townsend’s alleged victim’s repeatedly broke down as she insisted the abuse had really happened.

The trial continues at Oxford Crown Court.