AN organ tutor has appeared in court accused of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl 30 years ago — who he has no recollection of even teaching.

Joseph Arnold Thornton, aged 84, of Monserrat Road, Johnson Fold, has pleaded not guilty to the offence, which is alleged to have taken place above an organ shop in Tonge Moor Road in October, 1984.

Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday from the complainant, now aged 42, who said she had been going to lessons with Mr Thornton for two years before the incident.

She says she only came forward to police last year after her 15-year-old daughter went to Bolton for a keyboard exam and she was frightened Mr Thornton could have been her examiner.

The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described the incident to the jury and said: “On this particular occasion I hadn’t done enough practice and he (Mr Thornton) came and sat with me on my right.

“I was wearing a red dress that was elasticated across the top and he pulled my dress down forwards and looked down my dress and made a noise as if to say he was pleased with what he saw.

“He put his hand in my dress and touched my left breast and said: ‘I bet this feels better than doing your homework’. I just wanted to carry on playing the keyboard and get it over with.”

She told her mum and a boyfriend about what happened when she was 17 years old, but did not take the matter further until last year.

She added: “I tried to bury it, tried to get on with my life, put it in a box and bury it away.”

Mr Thornton has denied the charge of indecent assault and said he has never touched any of his students inappropriately.

The court heard how at the time he would teach as many as 30 pupils a week, but admitted he did have some problems with his memory.

He is due to give his evidence tomorrow.

The trial continues.