THE former owner of a petting farm has admitted one of the people accusing him of sexual abuse saw him as a ‘father figure’.

Mark Hebdon is accused of forcing the teenage girl to perform a number of sex acts on him when he managed to get her alone on the farm.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 54-year-old denied there was ever any sexual contact between the pair when he was being cross-examined after giving evidence in his defence.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, quizzed the defendant about his alleged actions between November 2018 and November 2019.

Read more: Thirsk petting farm owner denies sexually abusing two girls

He said: “You started having fatherly feelings around March 2019 as you knew she was having some problems at home. Is that right?”

Hebdon replied: “Yes.”

Mr Abrahams then turned his attention to what happened after the allegations were made by the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Hebdon told jurors how he lost his mobile in a pond at Monk Park Farm, near Thirsk, while he was trying to rescue an injured duck just a few hours before police arrived and arrested in connection with allegations of sexual assault on children.

The barrister asked: “Did you manage to catch the duck?” Hebdon replied: “No.”

Mr Abrahams added: “So the duck got away, as did your telephone and then you go home and get showered and changed, so that when the police arrive there is no suggestion that you are wet.

“So, it is just an unfortunate happenstance that the phone the police might be interested in ends up in the pond that day?”

Hebdon simply replied: “Yes.”

The defendant is facing seven counts of sexual assault on two young girls over a 15-year-period.

Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how the first alleged victim made a complaint to police in 2012 saying that Hebdon intentionally touched her in a sexual manner on three occasions.

The defendant categorically denied abusing the young girl at any point but accepted that he put his hands on her waist on one occasion to get past her and denied there was anything ‘sexual’ happening.

On Wednesday May 25), Judge Timothy Stead told jurors why the two allegations made by a third complainant were thrown out as they would be unable to reach a verdict on charges of sexual activity with a child.

He told them that it was unclear of the precise age of the alleged victim at the time she said the offences took place as she couldn’t remember the exact date.

Hebdon, of John Street, Great Ayton, near Stokesley, denies the seven remaining charges, including sexual activity with a child and sexual touching of a child.

The trial continues.

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