FORMER Abingdon Chamber of Commerce boss Paul Townsend allegedly put his fingers down the waistband of a teenage girl’s trousers, a jury heard yesterday. The 28-year-old, of Hadland Road, Abingdon, also allegedly told the girl she was “almost legal” and there was a “countdown” until she was.

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 over a two-year period against four young girls.

Yesterday the second of the complainants took to the stand at Oxford Crown Court to give evidence.

She told the jury Townsend had gone from giving her “firm hugs” to sliding his hands towards her bottom in a way that made her feel “uncomfortable”.

Asked about the hugs, she replied: “The first time I didn’t say anything, because it was weird and uncomfortable, then after a while I said ‘just stop’.”

Fern Russell, prosecuting, asked her: “Did he stop it?”

The witness replied: “No, he said: ‘No, I want one’.”

She added: “There were occasions when he would hug me and his fingers would go down the waistband of my trousers.”

The trial continues.