A MAN allegedly abused two children, raping one of them and repeatedly performing sexual acts in front of the other, a jury heard.

Raymond Kavanagh, 52, was said to have touched the boy. The child turned his head away, because it was ‘rude and made him feel sad’. The defendant also allegedly raped a girl, who didn't tell anybody about what had gone on at the time, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Kavanagh, of Bracewell Street, Burnley, denies three charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and three allegations of sexual assault of a child under 13, against the boy. He also pleads not guilty to rape of a child under 13 and an alternative count of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Peter Horgan, prosecuting, told the jury the children were interviewed by police in November 2012.

The boy described how Kavanagh had told him to touch him, but the boy had said no because ‘it was rude and not nice’. The defendant allegedly committed a sexual act in front of the boy more than once.

Kavanagh, said to have committed the offences at a house in Burnley, allegedly raped the girl on a sofa and, said the prosecutor: “She was quite clear the incident had occurred.”

Mr Horgan said the boy told an adult what he claimed had gone on and the conversation was taped on a mobile phone. The matter was reported to the police and the defendant was arrested and interviewed in November 2012.

The prosecutor said: “He was cautioned. He made no comment on his arrest. When he was interviewed, he denied, in short, any sexual abuse of either of the children.”

(Proceeding)