A woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by an Ipswich man more than 20 years ago did not tell anyone about the allegations until a few years ago, a court heard.

In statements read to a jury at Ipswich Crown Court today, March 15, friends and relatives of the woman said she only revealed what Darren Turpin had allegedly done to her in late 2014-15.

One friend said the woman had become upset while they were in Ipswich’s Christchurch Park and told him she had been thinking about something that happened in her past.

She had then told him she had been sexually assaulted by Turpin 20 years earlier, the court heard.

Turpin, 52, of Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, has denied four offences of indecency with a child and six offences of indecent assault dating back to the mid 1990’s.

Gareth Hughes, prosecuting, said when the alleged victim went to the police 18 months ago she claimed Turpin had touched her indecently and had got her to touch him.

Following his arrest Turpin denied the allegations and described them as “absolute rubbish”.

The trial continues.