A FORMER school caretaker accused of sexually abusing a girl for two years claims nothing ever happened, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Graham Walsh, 34, maintains the girl made up her allegations because she did not like him. The girl, who alleges he forced sex on her, leaving her upset but then "just went back to his normal self", broke down as she insisted she was telling the truth.

Walsh, who lives in Darwen, is said to have groomed the alleged victim for sex, to have tried to win her trust and to have bought her gifts and plied her with drink.

He is alleged to have become more confident and clever as his "vile" behaviour towards the girl became more serious and to have controlled her physically and with mind games.

The prosecution allege the defendant kissed the girl "in an adult way," performed sex acts and then finally raped her as she cried. After the alleged attack, the defendant is said to have told the girl: "At least you now have some experience when you have boyfriends."

The defendant, of Melita Street, denies rape and eight charges of indecent assault, between March 2000 and January 2003.

Giving evidence via video link, the child, wearing her school uniform, said before the alleged rape Walsh told her he had something he wanted to show her. She said: "He usually said that and gave me a sweet or something."

The girl claimed Walsh had sex with her and pulled away when he heard someone approach. She was upset by what happened.

Julie Taylor, defending Walsh, asked: "Are you sure that happened and that you are not just making it up?" The girl said it was true.

The barrister asked: "Did you not think to tell your mother?" The alleged victim replied: "No."

Cross-examined by Miss Taylor, the child agreed she had problems with her nerves and with school attendance. She agreed she still missed a lot of school. Asked why she did not tell anyone about Walsh's alleged conduct, the girl said she ran to her nan's but her mother arrived and started shouting at her.

Miss Taylor asked: "Why didn't you tell a teacher?" The complainant replied: "I have had problems at school before with bullies and nothing ever happened. I decided not to tell them as they were not going to do anything for me."

The girl said she was eventually asked by an aunt if anything was happening and she at first denied it. She then told the aunt, who informed her mother and police were involved.

Miss Taylor went on: "I suggest you have made all these allegations up." The girl replied: "I wouldn't do that to anybody."

The barrister continued: "Has anybody else asked you to make these things up?" The alleged victim replied: "No."

Miss Taylor asked: "When the police came to see you you didn't tell them everything, did you?" The girl: "I was a bit upset."

The girl agreed she had had condoms in her room but said she was not having sex with anybody. Miss Taylor went on: "The defendant says none of these things happened and you have made it all up. Isn't that true?" The child replied: "No, it isn't."

(Proceeding)