A man denied indecently assaulting a young girl over a six-year period when he appeared before Oxford Crown Court on December 10.

Charles White, 53, of Milton Gate Road, Deddington, near Banbury, pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault between December 1988 and December 1994.

DC Mark Jenkins, of the child protection and sexual crime unit based at Banbury, told the court that White was arrested in April after the girl, who is now 20, told police about the alleged incidents.

The victim -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- claims the abuse started when she was seven, with the last alleged incident taking place when she was 13.

On Monday, she told the court she had been too scared to tell anyone about the assaults at the time.

White, a self-employed welder, denied the charges when he gave evidence on December 10.

The judge was due to sum up the case on December 11 before sending the jury out to reach a verdict.