A MAN who says he was groomed and sexually assaulted by a female social worker when he was a young teenager has denied being inspired by a television programme to make the allegation.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges that Samantha Hesler bought him cigarettes, booze and computer games during their three year sexual relationship in the 90s.

He also maintains that the-now 50-year-old told him she had become pregnant with his baby when he called at her house several months after breaking off the illicit-relationship.

The defendant's counsel quizzed the man about the allegations during cross examination at Teesside Crown Court.

Deborah Smithies, representing Hesler, said: "When she opened the door, she said 'I was pregnant with your child', is that really how the conversation went?"

The complainant replied: "Yes."

Miss Smithies continued: "You have not seen her for six months, she opens the door to you and the first words out of her mouth were 'I was pregnant with your child and I got rid of it' – is that right?"

He simply replied: "Yes."

When giving evidence in the case, the man told jurors that Hesler and her brother had 'threatened him' into silence and he only told his wife what had happened after she told him she wanted to be a social worker, like his alleged abuser.

However, Miss Smithies put it to the man that he had made up the allegations after being inspired by a storyline in Emmerdale.

She said: "you have copied the story to come up with false allegations, haven't you?"

He replied: "Absolutely not."

Turning to the two allegations of sexual assault, Miss Smithies said: "There was never an occasion when she touched your penis, was there?"

"Yes there was," he replied.

She continued: "There was never an occasion when she put a condom on you."

He replied: "Yes there was."

Hesler, of The Dorkins, Great Broughton, near Stokesley, denies two charges of sexual assault on the teenager when he was aged around 13-14.

The trial continues.

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