An Illawarra man accused of sexually abusing two young female relatives in separate incidents 20 years apart has been labelled a “sick pr—k” by one of his alleged victims.
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The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is standing trial in Wollongong District Court this week on seven counts of child rape and indecent assault, amid allegations he molested his niece in the 1980s and his step-granddaughter in the mid-2000s.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The man’s step-granddaughter was the first to give evidence in the trial on Monday, saying she’d had a close relationship with the man as a young girl, however said she felt a shift in the dynamic of their relationship when she turned nine.
“I began feeling a different affection and love from [him], he was very friendly and always wanted to have me around; not so much my brother but always me,” she said.
The woman, now in her early 20s, recalled one incident when he grandfather allegedly “pashed” her in bed when she was nine.
The woman claimed not long afterwards her grandfather digitally penetrated her while they were on holidays at West Wyalong.
When she objected to the touching, the man allegedly told her “shut up, you’re going to wake your Nan”, who was sleeping in a bed next to them.
Her grandfather also allegedly told her “you enjoy it”, referring to the abuse.
The woman recalled another incident in which her grandfather raped her in the family home, causing her to bleed.
She said she told her mother and grandmother about the alleged abuse, calling him a “sick pr—k”, however later told them she’d lied. When asked on Monday why she’d retracted the allegations if they were true, the woman said because her grandfather had made her out to be “mental”.
“He was saying I was a trouble child,” she said.
“So for the sake of my family I said I made it up.”
Police became aware of the allegations in late 2013 and contacted the woman. She agreed to visit the man while wear a recording device.
In the audio, played in court, the man denied all the allegations except the West Wyalong incident. On that question, he repeatedly asked the woman “who instigated that” before eventually telling her “you touched me”.
“I was 9,” she shot back.
The trial, before Judge Andrew Haesler, continues.
