TWO little girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a pensioner at his house.

A friend who was with the two youngsters, both aged under ten, told a jury how Terence Marshall, 65, touched the girls indecently when they were sitting on his knee.

Marshall, formerly of Princess Street, Nelson, denies three counts of indecent assault between last May and June and told police the allegations against him were a "conspiracy."

The girls' friend told Burnley Crown Court it was the first time she had been to Marshall's house. The defendant allegedly put his arm around the schoolgirls and put his hand on their legs.

Cross examined by Nick Kennedy, defending, the friend denied she and another of the girls had lifted up their tops and asked Marshall to look at their chests.

Mr Kennedy said: "Do you think that would be a stupid thing to do?"

The girl said: "Yes, and we never did it." Mr Kennedy added: "Did you ever tell one of your friends to go and sit on the defendant's knee so that you could see what he did to her?"

The girl said: "No, I never said it."

The jury was told when the four girls got home, they went playing and later told one of their mothers what had allegedly gone on. The police were contacted.

When he was interviewed by officers, Marshall said he had only tickled the alleged victims and "acted the goat" with them.

He maintained his innocence and claimed the allegations were a "conspiracy."

Marshall said there was no way anybody would do what he was alleged to have done in front of others.

(Proceeding)

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