Former county detective on trial -update

4:14pm Monday 6th October 2008

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A FORMER Herefordshire detective put his hand down a 13-year-old girl's underwear, a court heard today.

Geoffrey Alan Gough, aged 55, of Spring Gardens, Malvern, was said to have sexually assaulted the girl while her giving her a lift in his car.

Gloucester Crown Court was told that Gough picked up the teenager and her 17 year-old friend in Hereford City centre after a night out with friends. Fiona Elder, prosecuting, said Gough then drove the girls to Belmont Tesco car park. Miss Elder said Gough gave the 17 year-old £10 to buy a drink from Tescos and waited in the car with the 13 year-old.

The 13 year-old girl said in a police interview that Gough put his hand on her hand before putting his hand down her trousers while they were in the car together.

The court heard that the 17 year-old was concerned about her friend and found other friends outside Tesco who then went to the car.

Gough, who denies one charge of sexual activity with a child and one charge of attempted kidnapping, then drove away from Tesco alone. Miss Elder said both girls had been drinking when the alledged offences were said to have taken place in April 2007. She also said the 13 year-old girl had denied anything had happened with Gough when first interviewed by police.

Gough, who was a serving police officer in Hereford in April 2007, claims he was a victim of circumstances and had merely tried to help the girls by giving them a lift home, Miss Elder added.

The trial continues.