A FAMILY friend abused the trust placed in him and indecently assaulted a girl over a period of time, a court heard.

John Anderson, 37, is alleged to have attempted to indecently touch the girl while visiting her family home, when the girl's mother was either out or not in the room.

Durham Crown Court heard that the girl said he made indecent suggestions to her and said that when she rejected his advances, he would threaten to have her killed.

Giving evidence, the girl told the court she believed it started when she was about eight, and continued until she was about 13, during which time her family lived at three addresses in Darlington and on Teesside.

She said Mr Anderson told her he would like to have sex with her and that although she swore at him and told him she was not interested, he still attempted to touch her.

The girl, now 17, said Mr Anderson's approaches were sometimes even made when her mother was in an adjoining room, and that he would block the door to prevent her running for help.

On at least one occasion, when her mother was out, she told the court she locked herself in the bathroom until she returned home.

Asked by prosecuting barrister Aisha Wadoudi how she felt at his actions, the girl told the court: "I felt dirty, horrible."

The girl, who admitted she had a short temper, told the court she finally revealed what had been happening last year during a violent row with her mother.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Deborah Sherwin, she denied making up an allegation that another man offered her money for sexual favours, to explain her late return home one night.

Mr Anderson, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, denies three counts of indecent assault and one of committing an act of gross indecency with a child.

The trial continues.