A NAKED man allegedly sexually abused a little girl and afterwards gave her cash, a jury was told.

Ralph Stokes, 24, was said to have exposed himself to the seven-year-old child and got her to undress.

He was then said to have performed a sex act on the naked child and to have encouraged her to perform one on him, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Stokes, formerly of Elm Close, Barnoldswick, and now of Henry Street, Nelson, pleads not guilty to sexual assault on a child under 13 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Martine Snowden, prosecuting, told the court Stokes had been wearing baggy shorts. The seven-year-old thought he accidentally exposed himself and did not think anything of it.

The defendant then allegedly asked the girl to go upstairs and the pair ended up in a bedroom.

Stokes then stripped, asked the girl to undress and kissed her intimately as she lay on the bed. He then asked her if she would so the same for him, she refused but then quickly kissed him.

Miss Snowden said afterwards both the defendant and the alleged victim got dressed and Stokes gave her some change. The seven-year-old told police the defendant gave that to her for committing the sex act.

The prosecutor said Stokes told the little girl she must not tell his girlfriend what had happened but she later did.

The defendant was then confronted and asked if it was true. He claimed nothing untoward had gone on but accepted both he and the girl had taken their clothes off.

Stokes alleged he had got undressed and the girl had copied him. He claimed it was not of a sexual nature and no kissing had gone on.

Miss Snowden alleged when the defendant was later confronted again about the child's allegations, he said he was ashamed and needed help.

The defendant was later arrested and interviewed by police and repeatedly denied anything untoward had happened.

He said he exposed himself by accident and had immediately covered himself up with a cushion.

Miss Snowden said Stokes told officers he had got undressed in a room upstairs and had not expected the child to go into the room.

He alleged she somehow took her shorts off but kept her T-shirt on.

The defendant claimed any contact was instigated by the seven-year-old and alleged it was just her childlike curiosity. He said what happened upstairs was not as the girl described.

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