A MAN has denied raping and carrying out other sexual assaults on two girls at a farm where he was working in the 1970s.

John Regan has gone on trial, facing 11 charges involving the two girls, now women in their 50s, more than 40 years since most of the alleged offences took place.

The 66-year-old long-time farm labourer denies four counts each of rape and indecent assault, plus three of indecency with a child.

Durham Crown Court heard the charges arose after one of the women contacted police in 2014 and reported what she said took place to her at his hands over a four-year period during her childhood.

It led to seven of the charges being brought, some relating to specific events and others, described as “specimen” counts, covering an alleged course of behaviour.

Police subsequently contacted the other woman, who was allegedly with the first complainant at the time one of the offences took place.

It resulted in a further four charges on the now 11-count indictment.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, told the court that the first alleged victim, by then living out of the region, sent an anonymous letter to police in County Durham in the year 2000 reporting her concerns over the defendant.

The police issued a newspaper appeal for her to come forward and ring a number to speak directly to an officer - a call the woman subsequently made.

Giving evidence on the opening day of the trial, however, she said her call ended with the officer inviting her to “pop in for a cup of tea if you are ever in the area.”

She said no further action appeared to have been taken at the time.

In evidence she also said that down the years, since the incidents, she told two school friends, a relative on her husband’s side of the family, and three doctors, while seeking help for mental health issues, what had taken place.

Mr Bennett said when interviewed, the defendant, now of High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, said both women were lying and suggested they must have “put their heads together” adding “it was a set up”.

But Mr Bennett said, “significantly” neither of the alleged victims had spoken to each other in 40 years since childhood.

Scott Smith, defending, said his client’s case remains that the allegations were completely untrue.

In cross-examination, he said to the first witness: “John Regan never abused you and you are not telling the truth.”

She replied: “Yes he did. Yes he did.”

The trial continues.