THE jury is out in the trial of two men accused of sexual activity with a child.

Leslie Butler, 68, of Cruxwell Street, Bromyard, and Sidney Johns, 57, of Winslow Road, Bromyard, both deny two counts of buggery and a count of rape.

Hereford Times: COURT: Leslie Butler and Sidney Johns outside Worcester Crown CourtCOURT: Leslie Butler and Sidney Johns outside Worcester Crown Court

The defendants are alleged to have committed sexual activity with the same child.

The particulars are the offences took place between 1989 and 1991, and the sexual activity is alleged to have taken place with the victim when she was under 16 - as she was younger than 10 during that period.

On Friday, (July 22) at Worcester Crown Court, Judge Martin Butterworth summed up the case.

During the summary the judge reminded the jury of the sexual activity alleged to have taken place between the defendants and the victim.

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But, the judge said, both defendants firmly denied the counts and that they had any sexual activity with her.

“Mr Johns said nothing sexual ever happened,” the judge said.

“’It is a total fabrication’ he said.”

The judge also said Butler had said "at no time" he had ever been alone with the alleged victim.

The judge told the jury: “You must reach unanimous verdicts, if you can, on each defendant on each count on the indictment – that is either guilty or not guilty on which you all agree.

Hereford Times: COURT: Johns and Butler's trial has been taking place at Worcester Crown CourtCOURT: Johns and Butler's trial has been taking place at Worcester Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

“Put majority verdicts out of your mind – you must reach verdicts you are all fully agreed.”

The jury, which is made up of 10 women and two men, were also told there was no time pressure to reach verdicts, taking 40 minutes of deliberation on Friday afternoon before being sent home for the weekend.

During the trial Matthew Barnes prosecuted, with Giles Nelson defending Butler and Sam Jones defending Johns.

The trial continues.