A MAN charged with a string of historic child sex offences has gone on trial.

Rachid El-Barhdadi, of Bagley Close, Kennington, denies six counts alleging indecent and sexual assault against one child, now a woman.

Oxford Crown Court heard as his trial began yesterday how the 53-year old allegedly performed numerous sex acts on the girl at a house in Oxford.

The allegations date back to the early 2000s and only came to light, the court heard, in the last two years after a complaint was made to police.

Giving an overview of the case yesterday prosecutor Russell Pyne said: “This is a case of the allegation, or a number of allegations, of child sexual abuse.

“All allegations of child sexual abuse are serious of course and all are sad.

“Having heard the evidence of this case you might think that there is a particular ethos to the circumstance, a particular sadness.”

The court went on to watch a recorded police interview with the alleged victim - filmed two years ago.

Recalling the incident she told police that looking back on the alleged ordeal she felt ‘awkward and embarrassed’.

She said: “It was never really spoken about, it was as if it was a kind of secret.

“As I got older I just realised that was not right and then I told some of my really close friends [about the allegations].”

The court heard that El-Barhdadi went on to give a voluntary interview to police when the allegations came to light and that he denied carrying out any of the alleged abuse.

The trial – which is expected to last four days – continues.