JURORS heard today that the sexual abuse suffered by a six-year-old girl made her “not want to live”.

The jury in the trial of 35-year-old Edward Wakelin at Oxford Crown Court was played a video of the girl’s police interview from January last year.

Wakelin, of Humfrey Road, Barton, Oxford, denies five charges of sexual assault on a child under 13, six charges of indecent assault of a child and one of indecency with a child. The offences are alleged to have occurred between March 1995 and December 2008.

The girl, who also gave live evidence, said in her taped interview: “He used to touch me and make me touch him in places.”

Asked how it made her feel, she replied: “I didn’t want to live any more.” Describing her feelings now, she added: “I feel better because I’ve actually spoken about it properly.”

Jeannie Mackie, defending, told the jury the girl had made up her account to support the claims of another girl, who gave evidence on Monday.

Jurors also heard the girl had initially been contacted by police in 2003, but ran out of the room crying when they came to talk to her.

The trial continues.