A GIRL was repeatedly sexually abused by a man whose “escalating” attacks culminated in an attempted rape, a court heard.

Ian Hammond, 44, of Spring Chase, Wivenhoe, faces seven counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape.

He denies the charges.

Gareth Hughes, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court, said the girl had first confided in a school friend, telling him she had been sexually abused.

The court heard the school became involved in the matter, but a full investigation was not launched at that stage.

Mr Hughes said several years later, the girl made an online referral to see a therapist.

The court heard at her first meeting with the therapist, the girl said she had been sexually abused by Hammond.

Mr Hughes said: “In accordance with the therapist’s company policy and safeguarding policy, [the therapist] contacted the police about what she’d been told. She did that on the same day.”

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The girl was contacted by the police and she gave a brief account, setting out the abuse she is said to have suffered.

The court heard she then gave a full account in a recorded interview with police officers.

She said on one occasion she played a game of Truth or Dare with Hammond, which involved pulling down their trousers under a duvet.

Mr Hughes said: “The rule was you weren’t allowed to look under the duvet. [The complainant] remembers Ian Hammond hadn’t followed that rule.”

The girl also made allegations Hammond had touched her inappropriately on several occasions.

Mr Hughes described Hammond’s behaviour towards the girl as “escalating”.

He said when the girl asked Hammond to stop during one sexual assault, the defendant responded by saying: “Well, what’s wrong with it?”.

Mr Hughes said the defendant’s behaviour culminated in the alleged attempted rape. 

  • The trial continues.