THE alleged victim has been giving evidence in the trial of a Portland man accused of sexually abusing a young girl.

Kenneth Paul McGee, 54, of Verne Common Road, denies two charges of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault of a child under 13.

The allegations related to July 19 last year and involve the same female victim, who was 11 at the time. When cross-examined the young witness was reluctant to go into further detail of the allegations. The jury at Dorchester Crown Court had already seen a recording of an interview she gave with police shortly after the alleged incident.

Judge Roger Jarvis explained to jurors that normally defence counsel David Lyons would be entitled to pursue his questioning and put his client’s case to the witness.

However, he said that because the complainant in the case was a young witness, he had limited Mr Lyons on what he could put in cross examination.

Judge Jarvis said: “Had she been an adult witness Mr Lyons would have wanted to ask certain questions and make certain suggestions.

“If she had been an adult he would have wanted to cross examine her about apparent inconsistencies.”

He added: “He hasn’t been able to do all this because I placed restrictions on him because of her age. So you have got to bear that in mind when you come to consider her evidence.”

The case continues.