A WILMSLOW man whose friend stands accused of raping a teenage girl has denied engaging in sexual activity with her.

David Sydenham, 34, of Redbrook Grove, has pleaded not guilty to the historic offence involving a girl in Winsford aged 14 or 15 at the time.

It is one of a string of allegations made by the complainant, which are currently being heard in a trial at the new ‘Nightingale court’ in Chester Town Hall.

Thirteen charges in total have been put against a family friend of the complainant that built up her trust before repeatedly sexually abusing her, the court was told.

Samuel Redhead, 34, denies a string of allegations involving a woman who at the time was a ‘socially awkward’ schoolgirl that struggled for friends.

On Monday, the jury was shown the complainant’s video interview with police from 2018, eight years after the alleged grooming began.

The court heard how the teenager, who had a difficult relationship with her family at home, would frequently stay over at Redhead’s house in Wharton – often sleeping on the couch.

She claims there were a series of incidents from that point of non-consensual kissing, touching and penetration by Redhead.

Redhead, now of Cavendish Terrace, Ripon, pleads not guilty to 13 charges relating to incidents from when the complainant was between 13 and 15 years old.

These include four counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and three counts of assault by penetration.

There are also three counts of causing the girl to engage in sexual acts without her consent – including two which involved two of Redhead’s friends.

They are Wilmslow resident Sydenham and Kenneth Dyson, 30, of Dingle Lane, Winsford, who both deny the charges they face.

The court heard how the complainant went on to suffer with anxiety and agoraphobia.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Williams told the court that the defendant saw the teenager as ‘nothing more than a sexual object’.

“The two families became quite good friends,” he said.

“She started to spend a lot of time with Mr Redhead and his family. Mr Redhead took advantage of this situation to gain her trust, grooming her before he went on to sexually exploit and abuse her.

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“Mr Redhead says she was a regular visitor to his house but denies there was ever any sexual activity.

“He says, as do the other two, that these allegations are fabricated – that she has made them all up.”

The trial continues.