A 13-year-old girl was drunk on vodka the night she said a former Herefordshire detective put his hand down her underwear, a jury was told yesterday.

The teenager, who is now 15 and cannot be named for legal reasons, also told Gloucester Crown Court she had been with friends who stole a paramedic's bag before Geoffrey Alan Gough gave her and her 17-year-old friend a lift in his car.

Gough, aged 55, formerly of Bartestree and now living in Spring Gardens, Malvern, denies sexual activity with a child and attempted kidnap.

Fiona Elder, prosecuting, yesterday told the jury that Gough drove the teenagers to the Tesco store in Belmont, Hereford, where he sexually assualted the 13-year-old.

He gave the 17-year-old £10 to buy a drink from the supermarket before putting his hand down the younger girl's trousers, Ms Elder added.

But the 17-year-old, concerned for her friend's welfare, returned to the car with a group of men and Gough drove away alone.

The jury was told the 13-year-old originally lied to police when she denied even getting into a car with a stranger during an interview.

The 13-year-old, who said she was drunk on the night in April, 2007, said she lied because she did not want her dad to get angry.

The trial continues.