A WOMAN who claims she was repeatedly sexually abused as a child by a farm labourer told a school friend of her ordeal, a court heard.

The alleged victim referred to the person she said carried out the attacks, John Regan, as “that man” to the school friend, who did not know him.

But, Durham Crown Court heard that while she did not go into details of what happened then, over the years since she has told the friend several times she was raped as a child.

The court was hearing the evidence of the friend, a woman now in her 50s, to corroborate the prosecution case that the alleged victim has not just “come up” with the abuse allegation recently.

Earlier, prosecuting counsel, Richard Bennett, said police received the woman’s complaint, dating back more than 40 years, in October 2014.

But the woman, the first witness in the trial, said she sent an anonymous letter to police in County Durham in 2000, setting out what had happened to her.

Although she responded to a police appeal to come forward and telephone an officer, she told the court no further action appeared to have taken place - and it was only after her more recent 2014 complaint that the defendant was charged.

A second woman was later spoken to by police, who also said that as a child she was subjected to sexual abuse, including rape, by Mr Regan.

The 66-year-old defendant, of High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, faces a total of 11 charges, including four each of rape and indecent assault, and three of indecency with a child.

Seven of the alleged offences are said to have been committed on the first woman and four relate to the second.

Mr Regan, who denies all the charges, told police they were untrue and that the complainants were lying.

When arrested he said it was “a set up” and that the two women had put their heads together to come up with the allegations.

But Mr Bennett said the two women lost touch as young teenagers and have not been in contact since.

The court will hear the evidence of the alleged second victim of the defendant when the prosecution case resumes on the third day of the trial, tomorrow (Friday, November 25).