THE BARRISTER prosecuting a man accused of indecently assaulting two teenage girls said today his claim they were in collusion is "bonkers".

Leonard Michael Young, 60, denies three counts of sexual assault or touching, suggesting the two girls allegedly involved must have colluded to make their claims against him.

A jury failed to reach a verdict on one charge after a previous trial at Teesside Crown Court and Mr Young is now facing a re-trial at Durham Crown Court for that allegation.

But, reading of the case in a local newspaper, during the Teesside trial last September, the second girl has since come forward to make a similar claim against Mr Young, relating to two further charges.

Mr Young is also accused of intimidation of a witness during that hearing.

Making his final speech to a jury at Durham, on the sixth day of Mr Young's trial, Robin Turton, prosecuting, outlined that the two allegations were made more than a year apart, and one was only after a girl read of the first case in a newspaper report.

Mr Turton said the two girls independently came forward to make their allegations.

He told the jury: "The defendant's response seems to be: 'Well there's collusion, they put their heads together, it's a conspiracy'.

"One only comes forward at the initial trial.

"Why make up the allegations in such a haphazard way.

"What's in it for them? What grudge or motivation do they have against Mr Young?

"There's no evidence of a grudge. It just doesn't hold water or stand scrutiny.

"It's just completely bonkers to say they have put their heads together.

"There's just no evidence at all of collusion."

Mr Young, of Ventnor Avenue, Hartlepool, denies all four charges.

Defence barrister Alexander Krikler makes his final speech to the jury, tomorrow.