A WOMAN who has accused folk singer Roy Harper of sexually assaulting her nearly 40 years ago was questioned at Worcester Crown Court about diaries she kept at the time.

The witness, now in her late 40s, agreed with defence counsel Adrian Waterman QC that they referred to her early sexual feelings and experiences.

But she said she could not remember about fantasising about people, kissing them and saying she was in love with them.

Harper, aged 72, of Rossmore, near Clonakilty, Co Cork, Republic of Ireland, pleads not guilty to sexually abusing a young girl who visited his Herefordshire farm in the mid-1970s.

He also denies three charges of indecent asault, four of indecency with a child and two of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 between 1975 and 1977.

He also denies a further charge of indecent assault on a 16-year-old girl between May 1980 and January 1981.

The alleged victim, who claimed she thought every day about what had happened, was asked why she had not recorded it at the time but had only appeared to remember it some years later.

She said that she had ripped up a signed photograph of Harper and had gone to one of his concerts to "exorcise" the memory of what he had done to her.

In one of her diaries dated 1981, she recalled a meeting with Harper and his wife and said it was "ace". She admitted that she had been a heavy drinker and had suffered three overdoses.

She was asked if she regarded Vauld Farm, Marden, Herefordshire, where Harper had lived and composed music, as "a magical place" but she said she liked the surroundings and was sad when the family later had to leave.

When she recalled that Harper had a bald spot on the top of his head, the jury was shown a photograph taken at the time which showed he had a full head of hair.