A WOMAN has claimed she told former Abingdon Chamber of Commerce boss Paul Townsend to stop making “disgusting” comments to teenage girls.

The 28-year-old, of Hadland Road, Abingdon, allegedly made sexual remarks describing “what he would like to do” to girls aged between 13 and 16.

He quit his position on the town’s chamber after he was accused of sexually abusing four girls over a two-year period.

Townsend was also on the committee of Dunmore Pre-school in the town and sat on the board of the Choose Abingdon Partnership.

He denies 21 counts – 14 of sexual activity with a child, three of sexual assault and four of causing or inciting a child to engage in sex.

Yesterday a woman gave evidence on day seven of the trial that she had told Townsend “weekly” to stop making lewd comments and had reported him to social services.

She said: “Quite often I would make a comment that it was totally uncalled for – that it is perverted and that he is a letch – which he just found funny and it just fanned the fire and led to more comments.”

The witness also said she regularly saw Townsend hugging one complainant, despite the girl telling him not to.

She said: “He would ask, she would say no and he would do it anyway.

“But it never went any further than a cuddle in front of me.”

Katy Thorne, defending, suggested to the witness that the comments had just been “laddy” banter.

The woman answered: “No that’s not right.”

Last week the court heard from a 14-year-old girl who alleges that Townsend had sex with her three times when she was 13.

The trial continues at Oxford Crown Court.