A MAN "persistently and systematically" sexually abused a little girl over a two year period, a court was told.

A jury at Burnley Crown Court heard how Alfred Scott, now 50, struck so many times his victim lost count.

He committed sex acts on her, hurting her until she sobbed and took photographs of her.

The child began to accept his behaviour as normal, resigned herself to it and, in essence, submitted - although she did not agree to it, the court was told.

Scott, of Todmorden Road, Burnley, denies four specimen charges of indecent assault, said to have taken place between December 1990 and September 1992.

Neil Fryman, prosecuting, said the complainant was aged between 10 and 12 when the alleged offences were committed.

The defendant would press his groin against her body and did it at every opportunity.

When the schoolgirl was about 11-years-old the abuse began to get worse. Scott grabbed the alleged victim's hand, placed it over his private parts and made her rub him intimately, despite her protestations.

Mr Fryman said from time to time Scott would grab the complainant's wrists really hard, bruising her.

The prosecutor told the jury: "She didn't know any better.

"She began to accept this type of behaviour as almost normal, sad though it is, a young girl of this age being abused on a systematic basis."

Mr Fryman said Scott had committed sex acts on the girl, hurting her until she cried. He also took photographs of her.

At first the girl did not tell anybody what had happened to her because she was frightened. She eventually found the courage to tell her family and the police were later informed.

Scott was arrested in March and when he was cautioned, he made no reply.

Mr Fryman said when the defendant was questioned, he denied the allegations.

He said he did not commit them and claimed the girl's allegations were lies and a conspiracy against him. When he was charged he replied: "Definitely not guilty."

(Proceeding)