The trial of a 77-year-old woman accused of 15 charges of sexually abusing a child is taking place in the Royal Court this week.

Denise Violet Pirouet denies having engaged in a sexual relationship with the child.

The prosecution alleges that Ms Pirouet entered a relationship with a child several decades ago, claiming that she would engage in “heavy petting” and sex with the child “tens of times”.

This progressed from kissing and touching to having sex with the child, who had not realised they were too young to consent, according to the prosecution.

Ms Pirouet faces four charges of indecent assault and 11 charges of procuring an act of gross indecency. Three of these are alternative charges, which the jury can use if they think an offence has happened, but not as often as the prosecution say it did.

The 77-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, said in her opening speech yesterday that Ms Pirouet’s actions were “grooming behaviour and sexually predatory”.

The prosecution claimed that Ms Pirouet had routinely had the child masturbate her, touch her, and that this “progressed to sexual intercourse”.

Appearing in front of the jury on Monday, the alleged victim described sitting near Ms Pirouet when they would touch one another.

At first, they touched fingers, which progressed to the child touching Ms Pirouet intimately, first over her clothing and then under it. They described a “pattern” of escalation.

The alleged victim said they had not realised at the time that they were below the age of consent. They described being “excited” to see her.

Often, when the sexual activities happened, Ms Pirouet had “a few” drinks, the individual claimed.

They said they had lost their virginity to Ms Pirouet and that the pair had sex “tens of times” after this – each time was “opportunistic”, the alleged victim claimed. If there wasn’t enough time, they would kiss and cuddle instead, the Royal Court heard.

The jury was also told that Ms Pirouet would flatter the young person by telling them they were “experienced”. She was also alleged to have told the child that she was “from a repressed background” due to being from South Africa, and said that she was in a loveless marriage.

“Looking back, it was just fluffing my ego,” the alleged victim said.

The complainant was in the Royal Court on the first day of the trial, where they described the alleged abuse and how it had affected them throughout their life.

They had spoken to a therapist about it and took years before eventually making a formal complaint to the police in 2022, the court heard.

Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, asked: “Why did you wait until 2022 to make a formal complaint?”

They replied: “I think there was a number of reasons.

“They were a very powerful family, especially during the 1980s. I felt like I was in a pressure-cooker.

“I felt like establishment Jersey families weren’t to be challenged.”

They described how they realised many years later “that the damage had been done”.

“Intensive therapy” through Jersey Action Against Rape had helped them realise that the abuse had impacted their relationships and their use of alcohol and drugs, they told the court.

“I shouldn’t be the one that is ashamed and guilty,” they added.

Advocate Simon Thomas is defending Ms Pirouet. The defence is arguing that none of the alleged incidents actually happened.

Commissioner Sir John Saunders is presiding over the jury trial, which could last up to three weeks.