A 77-year-old Ipswich man has denied sexually assaulting a schoolgirl more than fifty years ago.

The alleged victim, who is now in her sixties, was aged about ten when Robert Locke allegedly touched her between the legs, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

She later claimed she was “absolutely terrified” of Locke and hadn’t told anyone about what had allegedly happened at the time, said Christopher Paxton, prosecuting.

On another occasion when she was about 12 Locke had allegedly got her on the floor and told her he was going to tickle her as if “ it was some sort of game.”

He had then allegedly “ groped” her breasts, said Mr Paxton.

Nearly a decade later, when the alleged victim was in her twenties, Locke had allegedly turned up “out of the blue” at her home in Felixstowe and told her he had heard she had been having a difficult time.

Whilst at her home he had allegedly pushed her “gently” to the floor and raped her.

“There was no violence, but she felt the defendant had some sort of control over her and she played dead and lay on the floor while he got on top of her and unzipped his trousers and had intercourse with her,” said Mr Paxton.

Locke, of Swallow Road, Ipswich, has denied two offences of indecently assaulting the girl between 1962 and 1967 and raping her in 1975.

Judge David Goodin told the jury that although Locke was fit to be tried he had some disadvantages and would have an intermediary sitting next to him during the trial to assist him.

Mr Paxton said that after the woman made a formal complaint to the police in the summer of 2013 Locke denied the allegations and accused her of lying.

The trial continues today.