A TEENAGER appeared in court yesterday charged with the rape and indecent assault of his young cousin.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of committing the acts over the past two years, beginning when the victim was just six.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the teenager would abuse the youngster in his bedroom when she visited his home.
Robert Woodcock, prosecuting, told the court: "When she was visiting the home of the defendant, which was frequently the case, he would repeatedly abuse her."
The court heard how the youngster was examined by a paediatric consultant after she confessed her ordeal to her mother, who confirmed that she had been repeatedly abused.
The youth, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, denies two charges of rape and two of indecent assault.
The trial continues.
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