A SCHOOLBOY was allegedly sexually abused by a middle-aged man, who told him not to tell anybody, a court heard.

The teenager, now a student, told Burnley Crown Court how he later confided in a friend when they were swapping stories about embarrassing things that had happened to them.

He told his aunt and later his mother, but didn't tell his father what Gordon Davies had allegedly done until some months later. His father then arranged for him to talk to a policewoman.

Davies, 55, of Eagle Street, Nelson, denies two allegations of a serious sexual offence and two of indecent assault, some years ago.

The jury heard Davies was arrested in September last year, after the boy's father contacted police in August.

Questioned by David Pickup, prosecuting, the youth said after he told his friend what had gone on, he told him he would have to tell somebody.

He told the court: "I didn't want to. I didn't want to break the news myself. My friend eventually persuaded me and I told my aunt."

He said his mother asked if he wanted police involved and the teenager said he told her he did not.

He told his father six months later. He said: "I felt bad about keeping things from him." Cross examined by Mark Stuart, defending Davies, the alleged victim said his friend had thought he was lying at first, as it was "not something you believe straight away."

He agreed after the alleged offences, he continued to be in the defendant's company alone.

He said he made a conscious decision not to tell his mother about his claims because he didn't want to upset her.

Mr Stuart suggested: "Quite simply, the reason why you didn't complain for a long time to anybody and wouldn't go to the police after that is because these allegations were untrue." The teenager said: "I don't accept that."

The boy's mother told the jury the teenager liked a cuddle and to be tickled. His drinking had been a cause of concern to her.

She said after she learned of the allegations and her son didn't want police informed she didn't "push it."

The woman went on: "He had been through enough of an ordeal." She added the boy had eventually told his father because he had had a few months to come to terms with a "very emotional and difficult time," before he did so.

The mother said she didn't tell her son who not to mix with after the alleged assaults.

She went on: "He has a free will. I believe he has to face his problems and his fears and overcome them."

(Proceeding)

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