A WOMAN who claims she was indecently assaulted by a man during her childhood only reported it years later after seeing him with another girl.

Durham Crown Court heard the woman, now aged 36, did not come forward at the time of the alleged incidents but became concerned when she recently came across Melvyn Peter Clement in the company of a young female and "alarm bells rang".

She informed police and it led to the arrest of 63-year-old Mr Clement.

The court heard he chose not to answer questions in interview about the alleged abuse of the woman.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said he was subsequently charged with two counts of indecent assault.

Mr Clement, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, denies both offences, said to have been committed between December 1976 and December 1978, when the woman was aged nine and ten.

Mr Bennett said the alleged offences started when he said how pretty she looked and what nice legs she had.

The comments made the girl feel uncomfortable and Mr Bennett said Mr Clement then began to touch her "inappropriately". Mr Bennett said the first offence took place when he took the girl into a box room at his home where he kept a CB radio set.

He sat the girl on his knee and began stroking her legs, before committing the alleged indecent assault.

Mr Bennett said Mr Clement urged her not to say anything, at one stage giving her home-made wine and telling her it was "their little secret".

"This is evidence that he wanted to keep it under wraps, a secret from others," he said.

The second charge arose from an incident after he appeared at her bedside after she had fallen asleep.

Mr Bennett said he only stopped and left the room when he heard someone coming up the stairs.

He added there were other incidents of touching which stopped when she was 13, after she told him she had "had enough" and threatened to "tell on him".

Mr Bennett added that he left and they have never spoken since.

The trial continues today.