Man accused of child sex abuse: "I'm sick to my stomach"

Thursday 27 July 2017

The trial of a 51-year-old man, accused of 11 counts of sexual offences, has heard police transcripts from when he was first arrested.

When the allegations, including indecent assault, procuring an act of gross indecency and rape, were first put to the defendant, he responded: "I'm sick to my stomach."

When asked by the lead officer in the case to comment on the allegations, Mr Jegou said: "I'm at a loss. I don't know what to say... It doesn't make sense."

During yesterday's proceedings, the court heard from witnesses for the defence, one of whom described the defendant as a "genuinely caring and lovely gentlemen" who "goes out of his way to help anyone in need."

There was a point of order raised by defence Advocate Michael Haines in which he submitted that there was 'no case to answer' to the ninth and tenth charges which allege the defendant procured an act of gross indecency. This means that there is insufficient evidence to uphold the charges and the Deputy Bailiff, presiding as judge, instructed the jury to withdraw counts nine and ten from their consideration.

The trial continues today with the advocates for the Crown and the defence summing up their cases so far.