Two women told a court yesterday that they were sexually abused by a babysitter's son when they were children.

The sisters, in their 20s, said that David Swales groped them in their beds, while his mother was downstairs in their home and their parents were at work. The older one alleged that he got her to perform a sex act and that he also had sexual intercourse with her.

She claimed that because of Swales, now 34, she was a problem pupil at school, took drug overdoses and became a heroin addict.

While in prison for shoplifting to fund her addiction she wrote to police in May 2000.

The letter read: "I would like to make a serious complaint of sexual abuse, what happened to myself and my sister 14 years ago.

"I know now what this man done to me was wrong. I was too scared to tell anyone.

"I just want to get it out in the open because I have bottled it up far too long.

"I have tried to forget but it in there every day and night. I need to get it done as soon as possible whilst I am determined to."

Weeping as she gave evidence from behind a curtain she said: "I remember he was dirty and smelly."

Her sister told Teesside Crown Court that he told her not to tell anyone because she would be blamed.

Swales of Borough Road, Middlesbrough, denied ten charges of indecent assault and four of gross indecency between 1982 and 1988. The case continues